{{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|df=y}} | birth_place = Killorglin, County Kerry, Ireland | death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|3|25|1936|8|16|df=y}} | 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rasireland.ie/2018/04/29/the-gene-mangan-story/|title=The Gene Mangan Story | Rás Tailteann 2020|access-date=3 December 2020|archive-date=1 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501152208/http://rasireland.ie/2018/04/29/the-gene-mangan-story/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Early life== Mangan was born on 16 August 1936.<ref>[https://retro-wielershirts.nl/pages/wielrenner-gene-mangan Wielrenner Gene Mangan] {{in lang|nl}}</ref><ref>[https://sitiodeciclismo.com/coureurfiche.php?coureurid=2961 Gene Mangan] {{in lang|es}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> A native of County Kerry, he was a distant cousin of John Mangan, who also won the Rás.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.museociclismo.it/en/articles/3173-John+Mangan/index.html|title=Cycling Museum - John Mangan|website=www.museociclismo.it}}</ref>
==Career== Mangan joined Killorglin Cycling Club in 1952. In that year, and in 1953, he won the County Kerry Road Championship.<ref name="auto">{{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|access-date=3 December 2020|archive-date=8 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408221624/https://killorglincycling.com/killorglin-and-kerry-honour-gene-mangan-at-the-ras/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Mangan won the 1955 Rás Tailteann aged 18; as of 2015 he is still the youngest-ever winner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.terracetalk.com/interviews/Other-Sports/40/Gene-Mangan|title=Terrace Talk: Interviews: Gene Mangan|website=www.terracetalk.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kerrycycling.com/gene-mangan/|title=Gene Mangan|date=28 January 2012|access-date=3 December 2020|archive-date=23 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923032004/https://www.kerrycycling.com/gene-mangan/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[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)]</ref>
In 1958, Rás won the last four stages, setting a record that still stands.<ref>{{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|access-date=3 December 2020|archive-date=24 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724111701/https://kerrysportshub.ie/2020/06/23/murphy-magic-as-kerry-cyclists-rule-the-roads-of-1958-ras-tailteann/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mangan also won several races at the Irish National Cycling Championships.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{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}}</ref>
==Personal life and death== Mangan married Maeve of Glenbeigh, County Kerry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/killorglin.archives/photos/a.1510679002594572/2397778540551276/|title=Facebook|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> He was honoured at an event at Áras an Uachtaráin in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://killorglinarchives.com/gene-mangan-honoured-at-aras-an-uactarain-2000/|title=Gene Mangan honoured at Aras An Uactarain 2000|access-date=3 December 2020|archive-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918110751/https://killorglinarchives.com/gene-mangan-honoured-at-aras-an-uactarain-2000/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Mangan died at Orwell Nursing Home, Rathgar, on 25 March 2025, at the age of 88. He was survived by his wife.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mangan, Gene}} Category:1936 births Category:2025 deaths Category:Irish male cyclists Category:Rás Tailteann winners Category:Sportspeople from County Kerry Category:20th-century Irish sportsmen
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