On Tuesday, January 16, 2024, Michael McNamara of Corbally, Quin, and formerly of Ballyogan, Barefield, and Clare County Council, passed away away peacefully at the Galway Clinic.
By Michael O’Connor:
“Safe Pair of hands and very much the go to guy” can in many ways sum up the life of the late Michael McNamara who passed away recently.
Comments from those who knew and worked with him in a GAA capacity described him as “very well versed in the ways of procedures and the right way to get things done”.
Former Clooney/Quin GAA chairperson Sean Earls described him as a man “who could remember dates, games, when events happened and the right way to do things in the quietest way possible”.
A statement from Clooney/Quin GAA club referenced all which others said of Michael.
“Anyone who worked with Michael in any aspect of Clooney/Quin GAA club saw him as a gentleman who showed respect to all and received respect from all he had dealings with. He was like so many other members of the club who served their time was a cornerstone of the club and community and this was shown by his long association with the lotto long after he stepped down as secretary and also after his second stint as secretary. Predeceased by his parents Michael and Mary, we would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Anne, Shane, Mike and Rory as well his brothers Gerry and Francis plus family and friends”.
A native of Ballyogan, Barefield, he attended Barefield NS and Ennis CBS. Michael played all his hurling career for St Joseph’s Doora Barefield. Such was his dedication to his parish he commuted by bus when working in Dublin at weekends to play for St Joseph’s. He captured Junior A league and championship plus intermediate league and championship honours with his club. He continued to have a prominent role in his club when he ceased his playing career.
He was actively involved in underage and adult administration with St Joseph’s. He was a selector when St Joseph’s captured the 1993 Intermediate hurling championship and when his beloved St Joseph’s captured the 1999 All Ireland senior club championship, he was the club PRO.
When Mike or Micho as he was called in St Joseph’s moved to Clooney following marriage to Ann Lawlor he became actively involved in all aspects of Clooney life but always retained a clear love for his native parish and often remained quiet when the two clubs met.
He became an active member of Clooney/Quin GAA club and served as secretary of the club at senior level on two occasions totalling over a decade in that row.
He worked with a variety of club officers over 20 years in the club. He also served as an underage selector on numerous underage Clooney/Quin teams that his son Shane, Mike and Rory played on.
One passion of Michaels was the club lotto and he along with long-time ally Haulie Hannon amongst others would ensure its continuity week after week.
Another hobby that Michael enjoyed was attending table quizzes in which he often was successful due to the supreme ability to recall facts, figures, dates, events and personalities.
In later years in retirement, he could be found out the roads of Corbally and Clooney walking his dog or alongwith Ann compiling a list of all those buried in Quin Abbey.
He also had a passion for “tracing people” in the community. A man who bore his illness with quiet bravery and dignity loved nothing better than reading the local papers every week, talking GAA and the new stories around the sport that might be making headlines as well as when his Clare GAA season ticket arrived as it meant another year on the road following club and county.
County operations manager Deirdre Murphy, a neighbour of Michael’s commented “Clare GAA are sad to hear of the sad passing following illness of Michael McNamara. He was one of the great unsung administrators of the GAA who acted with complete perfection and discretion involving everyone in the process. His work with Clare county council was of great assistance to Clare GAA over the past 30 years plus and his help around GAA election time was eagerly sought after. Having known Michael for so many years I would like to echo the sentiments of so many that he was a gentleman in every way one can describe. Ar Dheis De ar a anam”
Reposing in St. Mary’s Church, Quin on Friday, 19th January, from 5pm to 7.30pm. Funeral mass on Saturday, 20th January, in St. Mary’s Church, Quin at 11am followed by burial afterwards in Clooney Graveyard.
