Judge Bryan McMahon is to be the new chairman of the Abbey Theatre, Minister John O'Donoghue announced yesterday. A native of Listowel and a Circuit Court judge on the eastern circuit, he is the son of the late Bryan McMahon, playwright, novelist, short story writer and teacher.
At the announcement in the Abbey yesterday, Judge McMahon said "the star of the show is the event", which was the appointment of the chairman as part of the process of change at the Abbey, which started with the appointment of director Fiach MacConghail.
A UCD and Harvard graduate, Judge McMahon has been a solicitor, has held many academic positions, including professor of law at UCC - where the Minister was a student of his - and NUIG, and is author of a number of legal texts. He is also adjunct professor of law at UCC, chair of the Irish Universities Quality Board and chair of the National Archives Advisory Council.
At the announcement yesterday, Mr O'Donoghue said Judge McMahon was "immersed in our national heritage and our culture", as was his father, and described it as an extremely important appointment of a person with a deep understanding of Irish theatre and literary tradition. He had the leadership skills required by the Abbey, and an understanding of the requirements of governance.
Judge McMahon said it was a singular honour to be appointed and that it came "with a huge responsibility". He would "give it my best shot and embrace the challenge it represents with enthusiasm". He hoped the board would provide "a stable framework and solid backdrop for the artistic people in the theatre to strut their stuff, if I may put it that way".
Mr MacConghail described it as "a symbolic day" and praised the effort and commitment of the Minister in protecting the theatre.
Arts Council chairwoman Olive Braiden said that under Judge McMahon's chairmanship, "the Abbey will be well equipped to face the challenges ahead and to fulfil its role as an artistically vibrant organisation, stable and secure and enriching the life of the nation".