Gene Mangan
{{Short description|Irish cyclist (1936–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox cyclist
| name = Gene Mangan
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Eugene Mangan
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1936|8|16}}
| birth_place = Killorglin, County Kerry, Ireland
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|3|25|1936|8|16}}
| death_place = Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland
| height =
| weight =
| discipline = Road bicycle racing
| role = Rider
| ridertype =
| amateuryears1 = 1952–
| amateurteam1 = Kerry, Killorglin Cycling Club
| amateurteam2 =
| amateurteam3 =
| amateurteam4 =
| proyears1 =
| proteam1 =
| majorwins = Rás Tailteann, 1955
| updated =
}}
Eugene Mangan (16 August 1936 – 25 March 2025) was an Irish cyclist who won the Rás Tailteann in 1955.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerryman/sport/other-sports/death-of-a-cycling-legend-27419918.html|title=Death of a cycling legend|website=independent}}{{Cite web|url=http://rasireland.ie/2018/04/29/the-gene-mangan-story/|title=The Gene Mangan Story | Rás Tailteann 2020}}
Early life
Mangan was born on 16 August 1936.[https://retro-wielershirts.nl/pages/wielrenner-gene-mangan Wielrenner Gene Mangan] {{in lang|nl}}[https://sitiodeciclismo.com/coureurfiche.php?coureurid=2961 Gene Mangan] {{in lang|es}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W7cKAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Gene+Mangan%22|title=The Menapia Quest: Two Thousand Years of the Menapii : Seafaring Gauls in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man, 216 BC-1990 AD|first=Norman|last=Mongan|date=3 December 1995|publisher=Herodotus Press|isbn=9780952541400|via=Google Books}} A native of County Kerry, he was a distant cousin of John Mangan, who also won the Rás.{{Cite web|url=http://www.museociclismo.it/en/articles/3173-John+Mangan/index.html|title=Cycling Museum - John Mangan|website=www.museociclismo.it}}
Career
Mangan joined Killorglin Cycling Club in 1952. In that year, and in 1953, he won the County Kerry Road Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://killorglincycling.com/killorglin-and-kerry-honour-gene-mangan-at-the-ras/|title=Killorglin and Kerry Honour Gene Mangan at the Rás | Killorglin Cycling Club|website=killorglincycling.com}}
Mangan won the 1955 Rás Tailteann aged 18; as of 2015 he is still the youngest-ever winner.{{Cite web|url=https://www.terracetalk.com/interviews/Other-Sports/40/Gene-Mangan|title=Terrace Talk: Interviews: Gene Mangan|website=www.terracetalk.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kerrycycling.com/gene-mangan/|title=Gene Mangan|date=28 January 2012}}[https://www.the42.ie/the-legendary-men-of-an-ras-2093567-May2015/ 5 legends who tell you everything you need to know about the Rás (the42.ie)]
In 1958, Rás won the last four stages, setting a record that still stands.{{Cite web|url=https://kerrysportshub.ie/2020/06/23/murphy-magic-as-kerry-cyclists-rule-the-roads-of-1958-ras-tailteann/|title=Murphy Magic as Kerry cyclists rule the roads of 1958 Rás Tailteann – Kerry Sports Hub|first=Donal|last=Barry}} Mangan also won several races at the Irish National Cycling Championships.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Crns_Bi4dtYC&q=%22Gene+Mangan%22&pg=PT262|title=From Borroloola to Mangerton Mountain: Travels and Stories from Ireland's Most Beloved Broadcaster|first=Micheal O.|last=Muircheartaigh|date=31 May 2007|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=9780141911649|via=Google Books}}
Personal life and death
Mangan married Maeve of Glenbeigh, County Kerry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/killorglin.archives/photos/a.1510679002594572/2397778540551276/|title=Facebook|website=www.facebook.com}} He was honoured at an event at Áras an Uachtaráin in 2000.{{Cite web|url=https://killorglinarchives.com/gene-mangan-honoured-at-aras-an-uactarain-2000/|title=Gene Mangan honoured at Aras An Uactarain 2000}}
Mangan died at Orwell Nursing Home, Rathgar, on 25 March 2025, at the age of 88. He was survived by his wife.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-25 |title=Sad news with death of cyclist, Gene Mangan |url=https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2025/03/25/sad-news-with-death-of-cyclist-gene-mangan/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Meath Chronicle |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mangan, Gene}}
Category:Rás Tailteann winners
Category:Sportspeople from County Kerry
Category:20th-century Irish sportsmen
{{Ireland-cycling-bio-stub}}