The Gazette 1996

John Maher: an appreciation

John Maher's recent sudden death has robbed the profession of one of its most respected and well-loved practitioners. John had a long and most distinguished career, having qualified as a solicitor in Easter Term 1939 and continued in practice right up to his death. After qualifying, he joined the family firm of Daniel C Maher & Son which his father had founded in 1903. During its life-span, the firm has earned a well- deserved reputation of providing a really competent service to its clients. The practice has numbered many illustrious persons among its clientele over the years. In its early years it acted as solicitor to the Pearse family and, in fact, John's father administered the affairs of Padraig Pearse and his brother Willie on behalf of their mother following the 1916 Rising. John was a fine all-round solicitor who during his long career provided an excellent but very personalised service to his clients. However, John's truly great expertise was in the field of conveyancing. He undoubtedly was one of the great conveyancers of his era. Like all true exponents of the conveyancing art, he possessed the skill of identifying the essential core aspects of often very complex and difficult matters and providing simple and direct solutions to the problems involved. John freely and generously shared his phenomenal skill as a conveyancer with his colleagues as, in his private life, he always sought to be helpful towards everyone whom he encountered. He not only believed in the old fashioned codes of courtesy and co-operation but always practised such codes in his professional and private life. The consideration and courtesy extended by John towards his colleagues who transacted business with him was legendary. He always was prepared to assist his colleagues, particularly those who were younger

John Maher (second left) presenting a print of Blackhall Place to then President Patrick Glynn and then Senior Vice President Andrew F Smyth.

concise but always worthwhile contributions to matters under consideration by them.

and less experienced than himself, to facilitate the completion of the business in hand. Older practitioners will remember the sheer pleasure felt by them on learning from their clients who were purchasing property that their clients were financing the transaction with the assistance of a loan from the financial institution of which John, like his father before him, was the law agent. John always sought to facilitate the prompt completion of mortgage transactions in the mutual interests of his own clients and their borrowers. John was a very straightforward and uncomplicated man. However, he was very proud of his role as a member of his profession to which he rendered very dedicated and loyal service during his career. He was first elected to the Law Society Council in 1952 and remained a member of the Council until his retirement in 1977. Colleagues who served with him both on the Council and on the many committees of the Society of which he was a member remember with envy his remarkable ability of making often

As an expression of the pride he always felt in his profession, John generously donated to the Society some years ago a set of prints of the first drawings prepared by Thomas Ivory, architect, for the construction of the premises which now comprise the Society's headquarters at Blackhall Place - the originals of which were deposited in the British Museum. The prints now adorn the wall of the ground floor passageway of the Society's headquarters. 1964-1965. In his uniquely quiet manner he carried with ease the distinction of his presidency during which he represented the profession and the Society both at home and abroad with exceptional dignity and distinction. Despite his innate shyness, John had the gift enjoyed by very few people of being completely at home in any company as he himself invariably He was greatly honoured to be elected President of the Society for the year

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