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THE exploits of an Ennis man who was considered to be one of the most flamboyant figures of 19th century politics are set to be exposed to the present and future generations thanks to the University of Chicago.

In what is considered to be boon to historians of 19th century Ireland, the library at the university is now giving free on-line access to thousands of documents relating to Charles James Patrick Mahon – better known as The O’Gorman Mahon, who hailed from Newpark House in Roslevan.

The O’Gorman Mahon, who lived from 1800 to 1891 was a key figure in Ireland and internationally, first coming to prominence when, along with Tom Steele, nominating Daniel O’Connell to stand for parliament in Ennis in 1828 – an election that paved the way for Catholic Emancipation the following year.

Some of Mahon’s numerous correspondents include: Ellen Courtenay, Daniel O’Connell, Ferdinand de Lesseps, Lord Palmerston, Ann Choquet, John Adams-Acton, Henry Cardinal Manning, Captain William O’Shea, Lord Francis Conyngham, Charles Stewart Parnell, William Gladstone, John Redmond, James O’Kelly, T.P. O’Connor, and G.O. Trevelyan.

“Perhaps the most noteworthy segment of the correspondence is the group of nine letters from Charles Stewart Parnell, dated from 1880 to 1888, including three written from Kilmainham Prison,” a spokesperson for Chicago University has revealed.

“In addition, there are three drafts of letters from Mahon to Parnell, including one of a reply to a telegram sent by Parnell. It was written after the O’Shea divorce proceedings had been completed and Parnell was attempting to reassert his authority in the party,” the spokesperson added.

Mahon was elected M.P. for Clare in 1830, while 49 years later he was also returned as an M.P. and again in 1885 as the parliamentary career in the county spanned nearly 60 years.

However, he earned a worldwide reputation as a career solider. The Czar of Russia appointed him lieutenant in his international bodyguard, a position above many of his generals. He held the rank of captain or general under most of the flags of Europe and colonel in the French army under Napoleon III. In the 1860s, he was a general on the side of the Uruguayan government in their civil war and fought in the American civil war on the side of the North.

DETAILS of proposed new flood defences for housing estates near the Watery Road in Ennis have been outlined in a report by Ennis Town Council.

The proposed development comprises of an embankment along the eastern side of the River Fergus between the southwestern edge of Willow Park housing estate and the western perimeter of Westbourne. The embankment is to be constructed on the existing flood plain, which is located between the river and the Watery Road.

The works also comprise a pumping station and an area of ground that will be excavated to form a retention pond for temporary floodwaters.

The Willow Park residents association (2) and David Casey made submissions on the proposed development.

The report states, “David Casey (12/8/11) – raises concerns that the proposed development will result in flood waters been directed to Cusack Road / Victoria Court side of the river and that as such the said development should be refused; Willow Park residents association (9/9/11) – wishes to object to the proposed development on the grounds that it will leave Willow Park vulnerable to increased water levels during flood events.”

The planning report, prepared by Executive Planner, Andrew Hersey, responded to concerns raised by residents of Willow Park and Elm Park that the development will result in an increased chance of flooding to the estates. Referring to reports compiled by area engineers, Mr Hersey writes, “It is stated in these reports that the floor levels of dwellings in Willow Park exceed that of the proposed embankment.”

The report continues, “In this respect the proposed development will not result in an increased chance that this estate will flood during severe weather events. With respect of Elm Park, I note the report from the area engineer on file which states that flooding occurred to Elm Park as a consequence of localised flooding from the road which resulted as a consequence of a blocked storm drain specifically during the flooding event of November 2009 and not as a result of flooding from the river. Works will be carried out on said drain so that this will not happen in the future and that the council are seeking funding with regard to the same.”

The report states that the proposed embankment will be on par with the level of dwellings in Elm Park. “In this case the embankment would have to significantly breach during severe weather conditions so as to cause flooding.”

Mr Hersey recommended that the development proceed having regard to a number of conditions.

RETIRED Judge Joseph Mangan’s reputation is “bordering on the legendary”, is a “rare intellect”, with a “mind like an encyclopedia”.

As warm tributes were paid to the District Court Judge, who sat in court in Ennis for the last time on Friday, his love of literature, general knowledge, foreign languages and Gaelic games were remembered.

The 66-year-old, who is from Kilmihil, announced on Thursday that he was going to retire the following day, after a 27-year career as a judge. Despite the short notice, colleagues from across the country travelled to Ennis Courthouse for his farewell on Friday afternoon.

The judge, who was appointed to the bench in 1983, has been the presiding judge in Clare since July 2001. During that time, he has sat at Ennis District Court, along with the courts across the county and in Gort, Athenry and Kinvara in Galway. He was one of the country’s longest-serving judges.

Among those in attendance included eight judges, many of who had worked closely with Judge Mangan over the years. They were Judges Tom O’Donnell, Gerard Haughton, Aeneas McCarthy, Gerard Furlong, David Riordan, Michael Patwell (retired), Eamon O’Brien and Tim Lucey.

Judge O’Donnell, who sat in Limerick for several years prior to his appointment as Circuit Judge earlier this year, referred to Judge Mangan as a “wonderful colleague and good friend”. He recalled how when he was appointed a judge, “he marked my card and told me what to do and how to behave”.

“His reputation is bordering on the legendary,” said Judge O’Donnell.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy, who sits in Ennis District Court on occasions, said Judge Mangan is “certainly a rare intellect” with a wide variety of knowledge. He said he always has a “constructive contribution to make”. “He is extremely interesting to have a pint with and is great company,” he said.

Judge Michael Patwell recalled looking at Judge Mangan “with fear and trepidation” when he was practising as a solicitor, but that he later became his “unofficial mentor” when he was appointed a judge in 1990.

He said that Judge Mangan has a “mind like an encyclopedia” and quipped that if anyone is ever on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, the ideal friend to phone is Joseph Mangan.

“It’s amazing what the man knows and the languages he can try his hand at,” he said.

County Registrar Pat Wallace told the judge that his day in the sunset has come and said, “You always maintained your independence and free spirit”.

Solicitor Brian McMahon, on behalf of the legal profession, said he was always treated with the “utmost courtesy” by the judge. “Being a judge now in the District Court is very trying and testing. You have handled all of that without fear or favour,” he said.

State Solicitor for Clare, Martin Linnane, noted that the judge was strict in his application of the 42-day rule for completion of Books of Evidence, adding, “I thought you could have at least given us 42 days’ notice!”

“You have shown great patience to many solicitors who go on at length,” he told the judge.

Chief Superintendent John Kerin said the role of the District Court Judge is “complex and difficult” and said that in the face of an increasing workload, the judge treated everyone fairly, “regardless of their standing or background in society”.

Owen Ryan of the Probation Service in Clare and Bill Hamill of the HSE, also paid tribute to the judge, as did the President of the Clare Law Association, Mairead Doyle and Brendan McDonald of the Courts Service.

Mr McDonald said that Judge Mangan had “seen more change than any judge in the country”.

Chief Court Clerk in Ennis, Josephine Tone said she and her staff would be sorry to see the judge retire.

“He never let himself be compromised or influenced. He was always impartial and fair. He had a social con- science, showed sensitivity and was caring for those with addictions or on the margins of society,” she said. He said that the judge always thought long and hard before distributing the proceeds of the court poor box to various organisations every year “for the betterment of the people of Clare”.

“He was always available for courts at any hour of the day or night,” she said. Ms Tone also paid tribute to his wife Susan who she said was always “pleasant and hospitable” to court clerks who called to the house in the course of their work.

IN HIS FINAL speech on the bench at Ennis District Court, Judge Joseph Mangan asked for forgiveness of anyone he wronged or anyone who suffered as a result of his actions over the years.

After telling listeners twice that he was overwhelmed by the tributes, he said that he was seeking “forgiveness to anyone I may have wronged or anyone who suffered through any mistake I made during my time on the bench. I appreciate that forgiveness might not be readily forthcoming but that’s not to stop me seeking it”.

“I’m overwhelmed by these plaudits. I’m at a loss to know what I’ve done to deserve them,” he said, as he prepared to bid farewell to a career as District Court Judge.

The career spanned almost 30 years; 17 and a half of which were spent travelling around the country, before he was appointed to his native Clare in 2001.

During that time, he came across people from all walks of life and, in his farewell speech, he didn’t forget any of those. From court clerks, to gardaí, to prison service staff, to the caretakers of Ennis Courthouse to solicitors, to probation service staff, to traffic wardens, to the media – there were words for everyone.

He had a particular word of praise for retired caretaker of Ennis Court- house, Ned Monahan, and said he was “particularly pleased” to see Ned in attendance in the packed courtroom. He also had high praise for Ned’s successor, Seamus Mullane, who is the current caretaker.

He said he had “nothing but the best of memories” of gardaí who served in the Clare district and paid special tribute to those who prosecuted courts in front of him. “You never see an inspector at a photo call but when things go wrong they are the ones who get the flak,” he said.

He said that the State Solicitor for Clare, Martin Linnane, adopted a “passionate and common sense way” in dealing with prosecutions, “never seeking a pound of flesh”. He said that solicitors in Clare have adopted a “standard of advocacy that is second to none in this country”. He said he was particularly flattered that eight judges turned up to wish him well and said that recently retired Judge Michael Patwell had been a huge support to him over the years.

In reference to Judge Eamon O’Brien, who has sat at Ennis Court on occasions in recent years, Judge Mangan said, “You could be seeing more of Eamon in the future. I don’t know what the odds are but I think they are better than Dana!”

He said that the Clare District was unique in that there have only ever been four judges appointed – Judges Dermot Gleeson, Gordon Hurley, Al O’Dea and himself.

He described the court clerks as the “unsung heroes” of this court, who, “do all the donkey work” and like garda inspectors rarely appear in front of the cameras but pick up the pieces when things go wrong. He paid tribute to his wife Susan and four children for their support over the years.

Thanking all who attended for the occasion, he stood up for the last time at 4.05pm on Friday. Showing emotion and trembling and with a pile of retirement cards in his hand, he rose for the last time and walked quietly to the judge’s chambers. It was the end of a memorable career on the bench.

AFTER SITTING on the bench at Ennis District Court for more than 10 years, Judge Joseph Mangan’s final day in court was filled with good wishes, with a bit of luck for the very last defendant who came before him.

The judge’s farewell speeches were timed for 2.30pm but ran a little late as the final cases were being heard. As the courtroom began to fill up with wellwishers – mainly members of the legal profession, the probation service, current and former colleagues and gardaí – after lunchtime, Judge Mangan quipped, “I see a lot of familiar faces in the court. I think I may have to disqualify myself from a lot of it.”

Moments later, he let the last defendant before him off the hook. It was a road traffic matter and the judge told the accused, “You are the equivalent of the one millionth purchaser of the Volkswagen Beetle. Go and sin no more.”

Earlier in the day, during one of the judge’s last cases to hear, a solicitor suggested a lenient penalty for his client, given the occasion.

During a hearing into a public order charge, solicitor Stephen Nicholas suggested that his client be given the chance to contribute to the court poor box “given the day that’s in it”. Judge Mangan replied, “I thought you were going to say given the day that’s in it, a contribution to myself.”

He agreed to the request and dismissed the charge under the Probation Act on condition that € 100 be paid to the poor box and this was done immediately.