Killarney honours the life of Bryan

At the Killarney Bar Association function were Pat F O’Connor, Chairman KBA, (third from left) and Pat Sheehan, Treasurer KBA, (second from right) making presentations to Bryan MacMahon and his wife Mary. Also included in the front row are Padraig Burke, County Registrar, Terence Casey, Coroner and Judge James O’Connor. Second row, from left, Una Glazier-Farmer, Lorna Larkin, Jane O’Halloran, Maura O’Shea, Angela O’Connor, Michelle Buckley and Leonie Hussey O’Brien and, at back from left, Michael O’Donoghue, Tim O’Leary, Emer O’Sullivan, Conor Myles, Sarah Quille, Liam Coghlan, Coman Larkin, Brian O’Connor, Micheal Munnelly, Cian Brady and Eoin Brosnan.
Picture: Eamonn Keogh

THE legal profession in Killarney has honoured a distinguished former High Court Judge and scholar.

The Killarney Bar Association, chaired by local solicitor Pat F O’Connor, gathered in the Killarney Plaza Hotel to pay tribute to Judge Bryan MacMahon and his wife, Mary.
Judge MacMahon is also a former University Professor and Head of the Law Faculty in University College Cork.

Pat F O’Connor said it was testament to the guest of honour’s ability and personality that many of his former students attended the banquet and regaled the company with very fond and amusing memories of their days in UCC.
Bryan was Chairman of the Board of the Abbey Theatre for 11 years and, of course, he is a son of the celebrated poet and playwright of the same name, Bryan MacMahon, affectionately remembered as The Master.
A native of Listowel, his brother Gary was a former Kerry footballer and holds the record for the fastest goal ever scored in an All-Ireland final. That was in 1962 against Roscommon and he fisted the ball to the net just 62 seconds after the throw-in.
In his post dinner address to the gathering, Judge MacMahon recited Bernard O’Donoghue’s poem The Munster Final.
His sporting connections are not limited to the GAA, however, as his wife Mary is a sister of Northern Ireland soccer legend and current Republic of Ireland manager, Martin O’Neill.
Now retired, Bryan still presides at Irish Citizenship ceremonies, reflecting his continuing interest in national and community affairs.
The MacMahons have strong local ties with Killarney as their daughter, Allanore, is married to local physiotherapist Colm Fuller and Bryan’s brother, Jim, resides on Mill Road and is a member of Killarney Golf and Fishing Club.
The Killarney celebration also marked the retirement of local solicitor Maura O’Shea and the departure of the Killarney Bar Association’s outgoing secretary, Jane O’Halloran, who has moved to Dublin. Tributes were paid to both colleagues during the course of a very enjoyable evening.

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