'The children came back to thank us'
Peter Lynch with his wife and son in a newspaper report soon afterwards
THIRTY years might have passed but Peter Lynch says he will 'never forget' the night a bus full of stranded passengers arrived on his doorstep during the worst snow blizzards in living memory.
It was late January 1982, and Louth was faced with the horrendous snow storms that had immobilised much of the country.
But in a rural part of the county, Tallanstown, a kind-hearted publican and his wife showed tremendous hospitality to more than 40 people, including young schoolchildren, when their bus from Dundalk to Ardee became stranded on the roadside close to their pub.
'The snow drifts were the worst, making driving conditions very difficult. We knew the bus driver Johnny Finnegan well as he was always passing the pub,' said Peter Lynch, who owned Lynch's pub.
'So when the bus was stuck in the snow, we had no problem taking the passengers in. There were a lot of school kids, and I remember there being great concern about them not being able to contact their parents to let them know they were safe.'
'The phone lines weren't working at the pub, so we couldn't phone anyone either. But I recall the gardaí came across the fields in the snow, and they were able to get the word out that the missing bus passengers were okay.'
Peter and his wife gave the school children warm food, including soup and stew, before putting them up for the night, in what for many must have seemed like an extraordinary adventure.
'I think some of the kids were worried initially about contacting their parents, but they settled down once they realised they were safe and warm, and kept each other company.'
The premises had a large lounge with soft seating which provided a comfy place to shelter for groups of children, recalled Peter.
The following morning the roads had cleared somewhat, and the Lynch's unexpected house guests were able to venture outside to return home.
'We were happy to help. A few weeks later some of the kids came back and made a presentation to us – a lovely gesture.'
