Jeanette (Jinty) Lynch
January 31st 1956 – 4th March 2025
Jinty Lynch was a force of nature, and her whole life was about hospitality and friendship.
She made so many friends over the years that it was hardly surprising it was standing room only at her funeral. She had friends from all walks of life, and she made each and every one feel special. But it was her family that stole her heart – and she was the happiest person on the planet when she saw her boys, Simon, Nick, and Ryan, settled and her grandkids born. She revelled in being called Gamma.
The priest said at her funeral that it was difficult to do justice to such a huge character, and he was right. He was also right when he said that he was grateful that she was part of his story, and he thought the congregation would feel the same – I certainly do.
I am grateful that I knew her because she brought fun, light, and laughter into every occasion, and of course an occasional outburst regarding something that was getting on her nerves. Jinty wasn’t shy about telling you what she thought, and sugar-coating was not part of her vocabulary.
Jinty was running Jinty McGuinty’s in Glasgow’s West End when I met her, so I missed out on her earlier days. She was a publican all her life, opening Jinty McGuinty’s in 1991. She studied catering at college but met her husband John in Lucifer’s, and they went on to open various pubs – The Bridge Bar, Winston’s, Lyle’s – and headed to Saltcoats to open Tokyo Joe’s before they bought Jinty’s.
In fact, originally Jinty didn’t think an Irish pub would work. But when folk queued round the corner to get in, she changed her mind, and from that minute on, she was as much Jinty McGuinty’s as she was Jinty Lynch!
She grew up in Maryhill, originally one of four, as the daughter of Vincent O’Kine, who was originally from Ghana and a boxing welterweight, taking part in 33 professional contests between 1952 and 1959. He was known as the Legend from Maryhill and married Sarah, or Sadie. Jinty was always the big sister, looking out for her siblings – a role she continued when she went into the pub industry with her customers.
She always had an open door, and many folk, for whatever reason, were offered hospitality at her door and a place to stay. Her food was legendary, not least because of the quantity – with Jinty, snacks didn’t exist; a two-course meal was a necessity, and when people came to the Redlands Road family home, she fed them in much the same way she did at the pub.
Jinty McGuinty’s quickly became the place to go in the West End, and there are not many pubs in the city that have remained in the same ownership for 30 years, but Jinty’s did, with much the same team for many of those years, including her right-hand woman, Caroline Wright.
All her sons have worked with their mum but she not just their mum, and on occasion their boss; she was their best friend too. A story was told at her funeral regarding son Simon. He had headed out on his first holiday abroad with mates, only for Jinty to turn up at the door. Needless to say, she joined the party.
She did so love to travel, and it was said that she had a secret BA employee number which allowed her to do it in comfort. She made many friends on her travels, and she also had many friends at Celtic, which was another major love in her life. She was a season ticket holder.
She also kept our spirits up during lockdown with Facebook posts featuring another love… Gerry Butler. In fact, her posts on Facebook often brought a smile to my face, particularly when I would see a great picture of Jinty.
When we did our Strictly theme at the DRAM Awards a few years ago, I asked Jinty if she would take part in the theme and learn to dance for the event – and she did. She was an absolute star, although she did say she wouldn’t be picking up the phone to me next time I called.
Jinty posted a few pictures of her last holiday to Rhodes, and she looked absolutely fantastic. But it was just after that holiday that she suffered a heart attack. Although she survived, she didn’t regain her strength, moving down to Troon to be looked after by Simon and his wife.
I feel very privileged to have known Jinty; I certainly won’t forget her, and my life is richer for having had her in it. I would imagine everyone who knew her feels the same way. She has left the pub in very good hands – it is now owned by her boys and run by Nick with the help of Caroline who looks after the admin. I am sure the boys will do their mum proud.
By Susan Young, Editor