We prove the existence of a polynomial invariant that satisfies the HOMFLY
skein relation for links in a lens space. In the process we also develop a
skein theory of toroidal grid diagrams in a lens space.
We give general criteria for an invariant of lens space links to bound the
maximal self-linking number in certain tight contact lens spaces. As a
corollary we extend the Franks-Williams-Morton inequality to the setting of
lens spaces.