MITCHELSTOWN BREAKFAST GUEST FALLS VICTIM TO THE ICE
John Lonergan, the former governor of Mountjoy Prison, who was due to impart his unique brand of wisdom in a short talk at a special breakfast briefing which was scheduled for The Hunter’s Rest in Mitchelstown on this Saturday, December 4, has fallen victim to the current icy spell.
John, who is a native of Bansha in West Tipperary, is among dozens of casualties turning up at A&E units around the country with broken bones due to the icy conditions. Mr Lonergan yesterday revealed he would be laid up for the next two weeks with five screws in his leg after breaking it.
Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Partners In Learning (PiL), Isabel Smith told The Avondhu, “This was so unfortunate for John Lonergan. There appeared to have been huge interest in the talk and we were expecting a big turnout. John sends his apologies and hopes to reschedule the breakfast event in late January or early February.”
John Lonergan joined the Irish Prison Service in 1968 and was appointed governor of Mountjoy Prison in 1984. In the years that followed, as he saw human nature at its worst and often, unexpectedly, at its best, he developed a deep understanding both of human nature and of Irish society.
SIMILAR PHILOSOPHY
Partners In Learning, linking Mitchelstown and Mbula, see a similarity in John’s philosophy and the PiL principles of equality and respect for all; empowering people in both communities to helping themselves and all through a medium of interactive enjoyable projects that brings colour and diversity, uniting and enlivening our own community of Mitchelstown.
They have been facilitating the link with Mbula in Uganda for the last 5 years, building connections in the two communities.
This may be in the form of exchange letters and projects between national school pupils, exchange visits and cultural days in secondary schools, the exchange of expertise with Mitchelstown Credit Union and the budding credit union in Mbula and the formation of an agricultural co-operative in Mbula seeking to improve the livelihoods of the community just as co-operation helped Irish farmers not so long ago.
FASCINATING LIFE STORY
John Lonergan has recently published his fascinating life story - from his idyllic childhood in rural Tipperary, through to a career in the prison service culminating as the most senior prison officer in the country.
His description of life in the prison service is not only a gripping account of humanity at its most raw, but is also invaluable for anyone in a management position anywhere. Revealing, surprising and inspiring, The Governor gives a unique insight into modern Ireland.
Further details of the new date for John Lonergan’s breakfast talk in Mitchelstown will appear in The Avondhu in the New Year.
Published:
Friday 3rd December 9:50am
