This article is from page 11 of the 2011-12-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
MANY tributes have been paid to the father of Labour and trade union politics in Clare, Peadar McNamara, who passed away at home in Magowna, Inch, last Wednesday night after a long illness.
These tributes have been led by longtime friend and political ally, Cllr Patricia McCarthy, who described the former chairman of the Clare Council of Trade Unions and Ennis Hospital Development Committee as a man “with a burning passion for the causes he believed in”.
“I have known Peadar McNamara for a long number of years and he was a man who was very committed to whatever cause he was involved in,” said the former Mayor of Clare.
“He was a noted historian that will stand to the benefit of the county in the records that he has left behind. He was one of the most unselfish people in the giving of his time and his energy to whatever purpose people asked of him.
“He wasn’t just involved in any cause – he was involved in a cause if he believed in it. Once he believed in a cause it became a passion with him. As a man who was involved with Labour politics for a long number of years, he was delighted with Michael McNamara’s election to the Dáil this year, but he was really thrilled with Michael D Higgins’ elevation to the presidency. They would have soldiered together for a long number of years. His connections go back with Michael D go back a long long way,” Cllr McCarthy added.
At the monthly meeting of Ennis Town Council, Cllr Mary Howard described Mr McNamara as “a great friend of Ennis and great campaigner for hospital,” while Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said “Peadar was an inspirational figure and he wasn’t afraid to get stuck in and tackle social injustice.” Labour party TD Michael McNamara also hailed Mr McNamara’s contribution to his General Election campaign. “He encouraged me to run and I greatly appreciated his guidance during the campaign,” revealed Deputy McNamara. “The grace with which he faced his final illness was inspiring. The huge cross section of society – which included artists, clerics from both the Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland communities, trade unionists and singers – who were present at his tribute evening at Cois na hAbhna a few weeks ago will never forget it. “He was a man with a broad range of interests, including music, painting and history. An unapologetic man of the left, he brought passion and commitment to his community and political activism, as we know from his staunch defence of Ennis hospital. He could also throw his considerable energies into disparate projects which included seeking recognition for long forgotten soldiers in World War I and the history of the McNamara clan,” added Deputy McNamara. Indeed, in the weeks prior to his death, an exhibition honoured Clare people who died in World War I was staged at Clare Museum. The exhibition was based on information compiled by local historian Peadar McNamara in 1988 from The Cla re Jour na l , The Cla re Cha mpion , The Sa turda y Recor d and personal communications. It opened on Remembrance Day, November 11 and closed on November 30, the day Mr McNamara died.