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District governor role for Terence


 Terence Mangan, the newly appointed district governor of the Lions Clubs of Ireland.  Photograph by Declan MonaghanPROMINENT Ennis businessman Terence Mangan has been appointed as the new district governor of the Lions Clubs of Ireland.
Mr Mangan, from Cahercalla Road, formally accepted the chain of office at a special ceremony in The Old Ground Hotel last Saturday.
He has devoted 23 years to raising funds for those in need and has been a voluntary worker since 1987 with the Lions International agency – firstly with the Lions Club of Ennis and since then, at national and international level where he has established a reputation for raising thousands of euro at home and overseas.
The event last weekend was attended by a large group of Lions Club members from all over Ireland and the special guest was the Australian ambassador to Ireland, Bruce Davis.
Speaking after his appointment this week, Mr Mangan said, “The need for service has never been greater. As the largest humanitarian service organisation in the world, Lions Clubs are dependent on the voluntary work of their members to ensure that the organisation plays its part in alleviating the suffering caused by disaster, distress and poverty. Our work in the coming year will focus on youth, sight, hunger, suicide and the environment,” he said.
The District of Ireland comprises 118 clubs, with almost 3,000 members involved throughout the country. Mr Mangan added that the Lions Club International is the largest humanitarian service organisation in the world, with 1.35 million members in 46,000 clubs in 206 countries, states and territories. In 2007, the Financial Times voted Lions Clubs the most effective philanthropic organisation globally.
Over the years, Mr Mangan has been involved in many fundraising initiatives and charitable schemes, reaching out to thousands of people across the whole country, as well as internationally. Some of the projects he has been involved in include the Christmas Food Appeal, hospital renovations, Trabolgan holidays for the elderly, a support role during the November floods last year and fundraising for the Haiti earthquake victims.
Lions clubs of Irelands raised almost €100,000 for flood relief in the aftermath of floods last November, while they raised almost €200,000 in five weeks as part of the Lions International response to the Haiti disaster.
Mr Mangan joined Ennis Lions Club in 1987. “I had seen the example of some members locally and I wanted to give something back to society. I have thoroughly enjoyed my work with the Lions and I am privileged to take on the role of district governor. A lot of good and worthwhile work has been done but I have also been very fortunate to meet great people through the Lions both nationally and internationally,” he commented.
He has also been to the fore of keeping a close connection between County Clare and Clare in Australia, where he has visited a number of times.
He will have the role of district governor for one year, in which time he will visit all of the Irish Lions Clubs and sit on the international council and other bodies. He recently returned from the Lions Club’s International Convention in Sydney, Australia.
Mr Mangan said that he is now semi-retired from business and will be dedicating his life to the Lions Club for the coming year and more. “Someone said to me that I will be going from working five days a week to six days a week,” he commented.
Two years ago, Mr Mangan, and his brothers, Gabriel and Leo, sold their wholesale family business to rival BWG for more than €20 million, Prior to the sale, the business had in the region of 250 staff, operated eight cash and carry outlets and controlled the MACE franchise for the West of Ireland.

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