Liam McNamara
Dunboyne and Louisburgh

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women
merely players;
They have their exits and
their entrances,
And one man in his time
plays many parts...."

Liam McNamara left the stage of life on the morning of the 3rd July. A gregarious, clever and self-deprecating man, he was loyal, respectful and empathetic to family and friends. Liam was also a born optimist, a characteristic which manifested itself in his unique smile and the positivity with which he went about his daily life. The crowds who gathered to say goodbye to Liam were a testimony to the importance he placed on making friends and maintaining friendships. A great communicator, Liam knew that listening was just as vital as speaking in the communicative process.

The son of William and Ann, and brother to Aileen and Aine, Liam grew up in Bunowen, a townland adjacent to Louisburgh. He went to the local boys' national school, Naomh Aloysius, and from there to Sancta Maria secondary school in Louisburgh. After his Leaving Cert, Liam studied in NUI Galway, graduating with a degree in Electronic Engineering and shortly afterwards he joined the workforce at IBM in Dublin.

Sport was a huge part of Liam's life. He played Gaelic football representing Louisburgh from national school to minor level, winning many west Mayo and county titles along the way. He also togged out for St Paul's of Clonee when he made a return to football in his late 20's. He enjoyed playing soccer, golf, snooker and racketball.

Liam made many pilgrimages to Anfield to pay reverence to Liverpool FC, Like many of us born in the 70's, Liam was lured into supporting Liverpool with a promise of continuous success; alas, the 90's were a barren time. Indeed, Liam's loyalty for Liverpool was nearly matched by his antipathy towards Manchester United, as those who witnessed his reaction to their late goals in the 1999 Championship League final could testify!

As an avid Mayo fan it gave him great joy when he watched from the Cusack stand as Mayo defeated Kerry in Croke Park this year. He was in the same stand for the 2001 National League victory, the last time Mayo won silverware in Croke Park at senior level. He also enjoyed the local derbies with Galway, and when he met and later married Majella, her Tuam roots added some spice to the fixture.

Majella and Liam had a great partnership, they were very much at ease and happy together, and the birth of Kate in 2007 brought them great joy. A favourite family outing for Liam and his two ladies were their trips to Inishboffin.

The many fears and unknowns which Liam faced during his illness were confronted head on. There were obstacles in his path but Liam McNamara never once looked for a shortcut or a detour. For those of us lucky enough to be in the full of our health, it was very hard to even begin to comprehend the enormity of the situation that our friend faced.

His optimism and positivity gave us hope that there was going to be a golden sky at the end of the storm. Liam was fortunate that Majella and his mother Ann, two pillars of strength, were by his side throughout.

Liam will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. A chat with Liam would always provide you with a laugh or a smile.

"They are not long, the days
of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a
while, then closes
Within a dream."

Courtesy of the Mayo News, August 7th, 2012. Tweet

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