Community remembers a man of the people

A "Real man of the people" is how the late Very Rev Michael McNamara, parish priest of Doora-Barefield has been described as his loss was mourned not only by his family and his parishioners but by all of those whose lives he touched throughout the county and beyond.
The death occurred of the popular priest, who was well known in GAA circles, on Saturday morning at University Collage Hospital, Galway. A native of Kilmaley, he had served as a priest in the Killaloe diocese for 40 years.
Michael Clohessy of Barefield Parish Council said that the entire parish will miss Fr McNamara greatly. "He revitalised the parish. One of the major projects he was heavily involved in was the development of a new church and community hall in Roslevan that has just got planning permission. He was like a snowball, he gathered people up along with him to get involved in the parish. He had a tremendous was with people, a real man of the people, and he had a tremendous way of integrating people into the parish. He had time for everybody, he was great at solving problems and when you met with him, you always felt better," he said.
He recalled many of the parish initiatives Fr McNamara was instrumental in, including a parish auction organised by him to help alleviate the parish debt. "The auction raised around €100,00, it was fantastic and it alleviated the debt completely. We will miss him immensely. He was also instrumental in upgrading the Templemaley graveyard and he introduced the dawn masses, which are very popular, he was unbelievable. He also had a tremendous regard for family and would always go back to Kilmaley," he said.
Fr McNamara studied for the priesthood at St Patrick's Collage, Maynooth and was ordained in Kilmaley church in 1969. After ordination he was appointed to the staff of St Flannan's Collage, Ennis as dean of studies. In 1971 he was appointed temporary assistant to Shannon and in 1973 he undertook a course at Swansea University in Wales on youth and community Services. In July 1974 he was appointed to the staff of St Patrick's Comprehensive School, Shannon.
Since July 2001 he served in the parish of Doora-Barefield, first as curate and since 2005 as parish priest.
As well as his work within the priesthood, Fr McNamara was well known for his work within the GAA. While in St Patrick's in Shannon he became actively involved in the management of many school teams. He then became very involved in Wolfe Tones GAA Club and served in a variety of officer positions on the committee.
During his time as chairman of Wolfe Tones they won every underage title in hurling and football in Clare in one year, a record has never been equalled by any dual clubs in the county.
He served as a selector in a variety of club teams and he became involved with Clare GAA, firstly with the county underage board.
He progressed up the ranks to hold the top position in the county, chairman of the County Board, which he held for five years. Fr McNamara served as a selector with a variety of Clare Hurling teams, minor, U-21 and senior level.
He was also actively involved with a number of Clare camogie teams and served as a selector on two junior All-Ireland winning camogie teams.
It was his appointment to Doora-Barefield that led Fr McNamara to join St Joseph's club, where he served as a senior hurling selector over the past two years. He was also active in other areas within the club.
At the weekend, all activities of St Joseph's were suspended as a mark of respect and all a games postponed. Before every game in the county there was a minute's silence, as there was before the Clare-Wexford relegation game at Portlaoise on Saturday. This week's Kilrush Electoral Area meeting was also adjourned as a mark of respect to Fr McNamara.
Bishop Willie Walsh was the chief celebrant at the concelebrated funeral mass, which took place on Tuesday at Ss Peter & Paul Cathedral, Ennis, followed by burial in the church grounds of Barefield church.

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