Fr. John M. Lynch was appointed Parish Priest on 9th. February 1970. Prior to his appointment to Tullylish, Fr. Lynch, who was a native of Rathfriland, had been Administrator in Newry. He was interested in the promotion of Gaelic games and it is in this area that he will be remembered by the parishioners. During his eight years in the parish, he worked towards the improvement of playing facilities. His first purchase was approximately twelve acres of land in Knocknagore. This acquisition had been, for a very long time, the objective of the local football team. However Fr. Lynch, realising this, planned and developed a first-class playing pitch and leased it to Tullylish G.F.C. free of charge. He also entered into negotiations with the Department of Education (N.L) for a replacement primary school in Laurencetown.

During the 1970s, Fr. Lynch had to comfort and give spiritual support to those many bereaved families in the parish who had suffered so tragically from sectarian and political strife.

On 25th April 1978, the Parish Priest died rather suddenly. Only after a post mortem was it discovered that Fr. Lynch had been a very sick man, though he had concealed his true state of health from even his closest associates. He was buried in Laurencetown Cemetery.