Tynan was educated at Presentation Convent and Mount Rath in Co Laois and began a degree in medicine at University College Dublin.

She did not complete her degree as she returned home to run the family business and take care of her parents.

The eldest, Paddy, was killed testing a car, while her youngest brother Dominic, drowned in 1974.

[2] A member and then president of the Chamber of Commerce Tynan got involved in county council politics for Fine Gael when she was elected as their candidate in 1974.

[2] Institutions she was involved in founding in Kilkenny were the Social Services, the Citizens' Information Centre and the Rape Crisis Centre, the Business and Professional Women's Association, the Kilkenny Soroptimists and the Civic Trust.