Bryan MacMahon
Encyclopedia
Bryan M. E. MacMahon is a Judge of the Irish High Court and the author of textbooks on Irish law
. He is the son of short story writer Bryan MacMahon
, and a native of Listowel, County Kerry
, Ireland
.
. He returned to Ireland in 1967 to take up a post as a Statutory Lecturer in the Law Faculty, University College Cork (UCC)
. During his time at UCC Judge MacMahon went on to become Professor of Law and Head of the Department of Law.
In 1987 Judge McMahon joined the law firm of Houlihan and McMahon, Ennis
, Co. Clare
, as a Senior Partner. While continuing to practise law he simultaneously held a part-time Chair of Law at the National University of Ireland, Galway
. In 1999 he was appointed a Judge of the Circuit Court. In 2007, he was promoted to the High Court in recognition of his status as a leading Irish jurist. A noted and oft cited jurist, he is deemed to be an authority on the bench in relation to tortious matters.
He was appointed Adjunct Professor of the Faculty of Law at University College Cork in 2004.
Judge McMahon is also Chair of the Irish Universities Quality Board and the National Archives Advisory Council.
In 2005, Judge McMahon (a lifelong theatre fan) was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Abbey Theatre by Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue. Interestingly, the Abbey was the venue often used to showcase many plays written by Judge McMahon's late father.
He retired from the bench on 8th April 2011 having served for 12 years, 4 of which were as a Judge of the High Court. He most recently served as Chairman of the Referendum Commission on Judges' pay which made recommendations to Government on the forthcoming 29th Amendment to the Constitution.
Law of the Republic of Ireland
The law of the Republic of Ireland consists of constitutional, statute and common law. The highest law in the Republic is the Constitution of Ireland, from which all other law derives its authority...
. He is the son of short story writer Bryan MacMahon
Bryan MacMahon (writer)
Bryan MacMahon was an Irish playwright, novelist and short story writer from Listowel, County Kerry. A schoolteacher by training, his works include The Lion Tamer and The Red Petticoat...
, and a native of Listowel, County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Legal career
Judge McMahon received his BCL and LLB degrees from University College of Dublin; subsequently, having been awarded the Harvard Fellowship, he undertook further postgraduate study at Harvard Law SchoolHarvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. He returned to Ireland in 1967 to take up a post as a Statutory Lecturer in the Law Faculty, University College Cork (UCC)
University College Cork - National University of Ireland, Cork
University College Cork is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland. The university is located in Cork....
. During his time at UCC Judge MacMahon went on to become Professor of Law and Head of the Department of Law.
In 1987 Judge McMahon joined the law firm of Houlihan and McMahon, Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
, Co. Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
, as a Senior Partner. While continuing to practise law he simultaneously held a part-time Chair of Law at the National University of Ireland, Galway
National University of Ireland, Galway
The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland...
. In 1999 he was appointed a Judge of the Circuit Court. In 2007, he was promoted to the High Court in recognition of his status as a leading Irish jurist. A noted and oft cited jurist, he is deemed to be an authority on the bench in relation to tortious matters.
He was appointed Adjunct Professor of the Faculty of Law at University College Cork in 2004.
Judge McMahon is also Chair of the Irish Universities Quality Board and the National Archives Advisory Council.
In 2005, Judge McMahon (a lifelong theatre fan) was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Abbey Theatre by Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue. Interestingly, the Abbey was the venue often used to showcase many plays written by Judge McMahon's late father.
He retired from the bench on 8th April 2011 having served for 12 years, 4 of which were as a Judge of the High Court. He most recently served as Chairman of the Referendum Commission on Judges' pay which made recommendations to Government on the forthcoming 29th Amendment to the Constitution.
Legal textbooks
Judge MacMahon has co-authored many legal textbooks including:- Law of Torts, co-authored with William BinchyWilliam BinchyWilliam Binchy is Regius Professor of Laws at Trinity College, Dublin Law School, Ireland.Binchy was educated at University College Dublin. He is a Barrister-at-Law and practised at the Irish Bar from 1968-70. He was a Research Counsellor to the Irish Law Reform Commission and special legal advisor...
(Butterworths: 1980, 1989, 3rd Edition 2000); - Casebook on Irish Law of Torts, also co-authored with William Binchy, (Butterworths 1983, 2nd Edition 1991);
- European Community Law in Ireland, co-authored with Finbarr Murphy (Butterworths: 1989).