A GOOD EXAMPLE.
(Special to Bassett’s Daily Chronicle).
Tulla, Sunday.
The tenants of Glandaree in this county, the property of the eminent Irishman, Sir Robert Kane, Author of the Industrial Resources of Ireland, have reason to congratulate themselves on having such a humane and paternal landlord. He has been the first to recognise the Government valuation as a fair standard of rent. His son, who is acting as agent, visited the property a few days ago, and said to the tenants, “her I am to carry out Mr Parnell’s principle and give you the land at Griffith’s valuation” and he gave them all receipts in full. This reduction had been preceded by other abatements. The Ralahine tenants beg to return thanks to Mrs Vandeleur and her daughters for having given through their agent, Mr Maynard, 10 percent reduction on the half years rent, due 1st May last. Last year the tenants were given 20 percent on the full years rent paid.
FIRING INTO A DWELLING.
(Special to Bassett’s Daily Chronicle)/
Ennis, Saturday.
Another of those wanton and malicious outrages, which are spreading through the country like an epidemic, is reported from Creggaun, in the parish of Doora, midway between Moyriesk and Ennis. About 12 o’clock last night a shot was fired into the house of a small farmer named Andrew MacNamara, and aggravate the dastardly crime, his wife had been confined of a baby that day, and the terror and fright which the shot produced had nearly cost the woman her life. MacNamara is a tenant of Mr F N V Burton, J P, D L, and a peaceable industrious man. The only ostensible reason for the attack on him is that at a meeting of the parishioners, lately held for the purpose of forming a branch of the Land League in Doora, he referred to a farm taken by a man, and said that if the Land League had been in existence then—some five years ago—things would have taken another turn. It is almost unnecessary to say that there is no clue, beyond a well grounded suspicion, to the perpetrator of the dastardly act.
Bassett’s Chronicle, Tuesday, 12 October 1880
Hi Sheila, here is one more Andrew McNamara of County Clare. I had mentioned the above incident on the thread about the formation of the Land League introduced by Matthew MacNamara back in June 2022. Not really sure how this Andrew managed to skip your gaze given your strong interest in the name Andrew McNamara.
http://www.ourlibrary.ca/phpbb2/viewtop ... aun#p14409
I've been aware for some time that this Andrew McNamara, Sr. (but also a Jr.), of Creggaun had a son named Andrew, Jr., who became a Catholic priest. On the ancestry website there are 15 family trees for the Andrew McNamara family of Creggaun in Doora Parish. Two of the family trees trace the McNamara ancestry back to Newmarket-on-Fergus Parish, but with no evidence, beyond an Andrew McNamara, born in 1836, the right age to be the Andrew, Sr., who died in Creggaun in 1910.
In now revisiting this family, I recalled the Halpin family of Kiltannon (Tulla) who originated from Fenloe in Newmarket and their family also included a Catholic priest, the Rev. James Halpin of Tulla parish. So I looked at the Fenloe graveyard headstone transcriptions and discovered the connection between Fenloe (Newmarket) and Creggaun (Doora) written in Irish:
“Aindreas Mac Conmara ón Clarraigean í nDúire”, written on one headstone must surely mean “Andrew McNamara of Creggaun in Doora”. The absolute proof I needed thanks to transcriptions by Pat Carrig and Martin Reidy for OBAIR Newmarket-on-Fergus as well as Canon Reuben Butler for lending the original notebook.
https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/cocla ... veyard.htm
Sheila, since only taking a quick look at this Andrew McNamara family a few years back, I’ve now purchased “The Diocese of Killaloe, 1850-1914” by Rev. Ignatius Murphy. The Rev. Andrew McNamara of Doonbeg gets a very good edit by Murphy which I’ve included in the below research. Andrew also had a brother, the Rev. Patrick H. McNamara, who went to Dubuque, Iowa, which I also found interesting. With last year’s discussion on the Rev. James Finucane McNamara and now these two McNamara priests from Creggaun, we may need to revisit our prior thoughts that the McNamara’s, despite their large numbers in Clare, had so few priests. Although for the two McNamara’s from Creggaun, I reckon they might have become priests under the influence of a maternal uncle, the Rev. Michael Hayes (1848 – 1940).
Andrew McNamara and Bridget O’Mealy of Newmarket-on-Fergus Parish, later Creggaun (Doora Parish)
Their grandson was the Rev. Andrew John McNamara, and there is a very high likelihood that Andrew married to Bridget O’Mealy was also an “Andrew John”. Thus, Andrew must surely be the “John McNamara” who married Bridget Maley on 17 February 1830 in Newmarket-on-Fergus Parish; witnesses Thomas Slattery, James Brasil, etc. (Newmarket marriage register, 1828-1865, pg 196) as later baptism records would also indicate.
https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls ... 6/mode/1up
There are 14 McNamara’s listed in the Tithe Applotment books, dated 10 December 1825, for the civil parish of Tomfinlough. Not sure which one might be the father of Andrew John McNamara who married in 1830.
https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/cocla ... gh_tab.htm
Andrew McNamara and Bridget Maley were the parents of four children between 1832 and 1842 baptized in the Newmarket-on-Fergus baptism register. Sometime prior to the 1855 Griffith Valuation the McNamara family moved to Creggaun townland in the parish of Doora, a distance of nearly nine miles. Andrew McNamara held Plot 1, lessor Duchess De Rovigo; house, offices, and land; over 26 acres; valuation £14 and 5 shillings.
The Andrew McNamara of Griffith Valuation in Doora Parish would unlikely, I think, be his son, the Andrew born in 1836 who did not get married until 1868. Plus, there is no Andrew McNamara in Griffith Valuation for Tomfinlough Parish (unless he is the John McNamara in GV?)
Andrew McNamara was still living in 1861 as when his youngest son, Patrick, died on 18 March 1861 at the age of 18 years old, Andrew had the below headstone #1 (P23 on headstone listing) erected at Fenloe graveyard:
Andrew McNamara, married to Bridget O'Mealy, likely died prior to the 1864 start of civil birth records and would be buried at the same spot as his son Patrick; “for him and family”. Headstone #2 (also P23 on headstone listing) was for another son, “Aindreas Mac Conmara ón Clarraigean í nDúire”, who died in 1910 (see further below).
There are no unidentified civil death records for an Andrew McNamara who died between 1864 and 1870, the period where on-line records are unavailable. The two Andrew McNamara’s who died in Tulla Parish in 1867 and 1869 were identified as both being from Glandree townland (thank you Sheila for obtaining these records years ago). Bridget Maley McNamara may have died between 1864 and 1870; there are two good possibilities from the Ennis registration district.
Andrew McNamara (1800? 1810? – prior to 1864?) and
Bridget O’Mealy/O’Mally/Maley (1800? 1810? – unknown) were the parents of four children in the Newmarket-on-Fergus baptism register (1828 - 1866).
1.0 John McNamara (1832 – unknown) was baptized on 26 May 1832, sponsors William Liddy and Anne Malley. His mother was reported correctly as “Bridget Maley” in the Newmarket-on-Fergus register. However, the father of the child was reported by the priest as “Andrew McMahon”, which, I reckon, was a mistake. There is no other Andrew McMahon reported in the Newmarket parish registers.
https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls ... 3/mode/1up
2.0 Andrew McNamara (1836 – 1910) was baptized on 3 September 1836, mother reported as “Bridget O’Mealy”; sponsor Ellen Lyons (Newmarket baptisms, 1828-1866).
Andrew McNamara, a farmer, of Doora parish, son of John McNamara [aka “Andrew John”], married
Bridget Hayes, of Balleen townland, daughter of farmer James Hayes [and Catherine Frawley per 1837 Kilmaley baptism], on 25 February 1868, at the Catholic chapel at Kilmaley, by the priest Michael Burke; witnesses Pat Collins and Kate Moran (Ennis registration, also reported in Kilmaley parish marriage register).
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 207058.pdf
Andrew McNamara, farmer, of Creggaun, married, age 71 years, died on 23 November 1910 at the Clare infirmary in Ennis; informant John Butler Clancy (Ennis registration in 1911). His wife, Bridget Hayes McNamara, died in 1926 according to her headstone, but I cannot locate civil death record. They were both buried in Fenloe graveyard and share the same headstone with their daughter, Mary, who died in 1900.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 503168.pdf
[Headstone 2] Ór do Aindreas Mac Conmara ón Clarraigean í nDúire do cluain do eagaib an treas la fichead di mís na Samna í mbliain 1910 í gcionn a aon bliaona déag ar trí fichid. Ór ar an hadlacad anseo dá chiniu agus ar duine dá sliocht í Máire a ingean fuair bás an naomad lá déag do mís na Bealtaine i mblíadain 1900 agus a bean Brigh? Nic Conmara a fuair bás ar an 12u lá Eanair 1926.
https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/cocla ... urname.htm
Andrew McNamara (1836 - 1910) and
Bridget Hayes (1837 - 1926) were the parents of eight children between 1868 and 1882, including four with religious vocations:
<Creggaun, Doora, House 8, House 8>
………………… 2.1 Catherine McNamara (1868 – 1964) was baptized on 14 December 1868; sponsors James Hayes and Anne McNamara (Doora and Kilraghtis baptisms, 1862-1882). Sister Matilda died in 1964 according to on-line family trees.
………………… 2.2 Patrick McNamara (1870 - 1936 in Iowa) was baptized on 27 February 1870; sponsors Michael Hayes and (?) Hayes (Doora and Kilraghtis baptisms, 1862-1882).
ORDINATIONS AT ALL HALLOWS.
The annual Ordinations at All Hallows College came to a close on Friday. The scene was, indeed, as picturesque and as touching a one as could well be witnessed. The three tiers of stalls in the long-drawn and lofty nave were filled with the main body of students—about 160 in number—dressed in surplices. Under the rose windows of the transepts knelt the parents and relatives of many of the young apostles. Across the spacious sanctuary stretched the long line of deacons, and when the time for the imposition of the hands arrived the stately consecrating Prelate, and All Hallows missionary of 40 years’ experience, and the sixteen assistant priests grouped in a semi-circle in front of the beautiful altar, and with outstretched hands completed a most solemn and harmonious picture. Long will the memory of yesterday linger, like sweetest incense, in the hearts of the young priests, and when hereafter, perhaps in the autumn of life, they come back to revisit their Alma Mater, the grace and joy of their ordination will be re-kindled in their souls.
Deacons (on Feast of Corpus Christi)—Rev. James Hynes, P J Hennessy, P M’Namara, Dubuque; . . .[20 or so other priests going to Nottingham and Brisbane]. . .
Weekly Freeman’s Journal, Saturday, 2 July 1898
There were two priests from County Clare named Patrick McNamara who were ordained at All Hallows in the 1890’s and sent to the Dubuque diocese in Iowa. And it is very easy to confuse the two in the federal census reports for Iowa of 1910 through 1930. Patrick from Creggaun went by Rev. P.H. McNamara and is not the Patrick McNamara, born in 1868, who immigrated in 1891 (ordained in 1890) and lived in Taylor, Dubuque County from 1910 through 1930.
The 1925 state census for Iowa is unusual in requesting the religion as well as the names of father and mother for each person. Most Irish immigrants settled in Iowa in the decades immediately following the Civil War, and you have to be lucky to still have an Irish born ancestor still living in 1925. Rev. P.H. McNamara of Allamakee County reported his parents as Andrew McNamara and Bridget Hayes in the 1925 state census (on page 2 of the 3 page census report).
1925 census:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKQW-QBLS
Funeral of Father McNamara Tuesday
WAUKON—Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s church in Lycurgus for the Rev. P.H. McNamara, pastor of that church, who died Saturday, a week after the death of his close friend, Msgr. John C. Stuart of Waukon. Lycurgus is five miles northeast of Waukon.
Father McNamara was born in County Clair, Ireland, Feb. 27, 1873 [s/b 1870], and on July 11, 1898, he was ordained to the priesthood in Hallows College, Dublin. He soon came to America, entering the archdiocese of Dubuque. Father McNamara had served as pastor of Charles City, Sheldon, Ryan and Oxford Junction before coming to Lycurgus in 1912. Through his efforts a new church edifice was erected at Lycurgus.
The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, 11 May 1936
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152 ... h-mcnamara
The below website provides the history of St. Mary’s Catholic Church at Lycurgus quoting a 1950 news article entitled “Spartan Lawgiver's Name Perpetuated by Group of Irish People”. Nice photo of the church which unfortunately is now closed permanently. The article mentions that P.J. [typo, should be P.H.] McNamara died in 1936 and “his grave in the church cemetery is a hallowed shrine”. The website also includes a photo from about 1913 with a priest blessing the cornerstone for the construction of a new church which must be the Rev. P.H. McNamara.
https://iagenweb.org/allamakee/church/s ... curgus.htm
………………… 2.3 Andrew John McNamara (1872 – 1971) was baptized on 2 November 1872; sponsors John Meere and Mary Meere (Doora and Kilraghtis baptisms, 1862-1882).
Andrew MacNamara, who was parish priest of Doonbeg when he died in 1971 just one year short of his hundredth birthday, went to Down and Connor with Daniel MacNamara and John H. Maloney after their ordination in 1896 and all remained there for three or four years.
The Diocese of Killaloe, 1850-1904, by Monsignor Ignatius Murphy, Four Courts Press, 1995 (pages 355-356)
DIOCESE OF DOWN AND CONNOR.
DIOCESAN CHANGES.
His Lordship the the Most Rev Dr Henry has made the following changes and appointment in his diocese:—. . . Rev Andrew MacNamara, C C, St Brigits [Malone Road, Belfast] to be C C, Newtownards [St. Patrick’s]; . . .
Dublin Daily Nation, Monday, 8 August 1898
By the 1901 census, Rev. Andrew J. McNamara (age 29) had returned to the Killaloe Diocese and was a curate in Borrisokane, County Tipperary. Unable to locate him in 1911 census.
<Shesheramore, Borrisokane, Tipperary, House 16, unknown in 1911>
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/ ... e/1690549/
Some of the priests ordained in the late 19th century came close to challenging Patrick Curtin’s record as the only centenarian in the history of the diocese. . . Andrew McNamara was a few weeks past his 99th birthday when he died in November 1971, after 75 years in the ministry and having been parish priest of Doonbeg since 1934. Fr. McNamara was a much loved and almost legendary figure in West Clare. The many stories in which he featured included some about his reputedly haunted presbytery in Baltard, an 18th century house built by a landlord which was demolished in the 1960s. However, most of the stories were about his driving. At a time when road traffic was relatively light, Fr. Andy, as he was known, was still driving a car at the age of 90 despite an apparent inability to remain on the correct side of the road. (ibid, p. 405)
On the topic of “mode of transportation”, Msgr. Ignatius Murphy tells of the controversy of priests adopting the bicycle at the end of the 19th century to get around their parish. Some thought it should be forbidden to “prevent them from becoming objects of laughter” as well as due to the danger, but the bicycle won out in the end.
The dangers involved in the use of bicycles were very real because of the uneven surfaces and roads. . . [deaths of Rev. Patrick Kennedy in November 1911 and Michael McCormack in March 1918] . . . Eight years later in April 1926, David Flannery, curate in Killanena, died in a similar accident when he collided with the motor car of his parish priest, Andrew McNamara. The car was virtually stationary when struck by Flannery’s bicycle. However, Father Andy’s later reputation as an erratic driver led to the embellishment in oral tradition of the story of an accident for which he had no responsibility, a point that was emphasized by the jury at the inquest when they exonerated him from all blame. (ibid, page 428)
Andrew McNamara, retired parish priest of Doonbeg, died on 2 November 1971 at the age of 99 years old per Ennis civil registration. He is buried in Doonbeg graveyard; his headstone, along with the others buried at the priests’ plot, was transcribed by Paddy Waldron:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 043796.pdf
I ndíl cuimhne ar anam Athair Aindrias Mac Con Mara Sagart Paróiste an Dún Beag ó 1934 to 1971. D'éag 2 Samhain 1971 in aois a 99 bliain. Sa Creagán, Dúire a rugadh é. D'oirdneadh ina sagart é i Maigh Nuad sa bhliain 1896. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé.
Barrett Ennis.
https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/cocla ... ptions.htm
………………… 2.4 James McNamara (1875 - 1945), of Creggane, was born on 20 April 1875 per Ennis civil registration. To avoid a late penalty in reporting a birth to the registrar, it would be fairly common to report a birth date a few months later than actual. The baptism record for James must be one of the five entries from February 1875 which have been covered up by a white paper in the Doora and Kilraghtis baptism register (1862-1882). See top left side of page 29 in below link.
<Creggaun, Doora, unknown in 1901, House 8>
https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls ... 9/mode/1up
McNAMARA (St. Patrick’s Missionary Society, Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow, recently Chaplain to St. Columba’s Nursing Home, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway and late of Abakaliki, Nigeria) — Sept. 15, 2005 (peacefully), in his eighty-ninth year, at St. Patrick’s, Kiltegan, Fr. Edward, son of the late James and Mary McNamara of Creggaun, Knockanean, Ennis, Co. Clare, deeply regretted by his sister Mary (Sr. Enda), St. Joseph of Cluny Sisters, Trinidad, his sister-in-law Frances, his nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces. . .
Irish Independent, Saturday, 17 September 2005
………………… 2.5 Michael Peter McNamara (1876 – after 1911), of Creggane, was baptized on 28 June 1876; sponsors Martin Hayes and Catherine Frawley (Doora and Kilraghtis baptisms, 1862-1882).
<Creggaun, Doora, House 8, House 8>
………………… 2.6 Mary Isabella McNamara (1878 – 1900), of Creggaone, was baptized on 24 March 1878, father reported as “Andy Mack”; sponsors Stephen Culligan and Catherine Hayes (Doora and Kilraghtis baptisms, 1862-1882).
Mary McNamara, of Crogane, age 21, died on 19 May 1900; informant father Andrew McNamara of Crogane (Ennis registration). She shares the same headstone at Fenloe graveyard as her parents (see above transcription).
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 623947.pdf
………………… 2.7 Bridget McNamara (1880 - 1977), of Cregganne, was baptized on 8 October 1880, father scribbled as “Andy Mac” (transcribed as “Mare”), and mother scribbled as “Bridget Hayes” (transcribed as “Mares”); sponsors Pat Burke and Bridget Lenane (Doora and Kilraghtis baptisms, 1862-1882).
https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls ... 6/mode/1up
Her baptism on the 8th was on a Friday, the next day at midnight the McNamara home was fired into by moonlighters in a shocking outrage. Understandably, the McNamara’s were a little slow in reporting her birth to the civil registrar on 8 February 1881, and to avoid a late penalty stated that Bridget was born on 5 December 1880 (Ennis registrar):
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 039790.pdf
Sister Agnes died in 1977 according to ancestry family trees.
………………… 2.8 Teresa McNamara (≈1882 – after 1901) was a 19 year-old daughter in the 1901 census. Unknown civil birth record or later whereabouts. Her mother was a widow at the 1911 census, thus number of children, born and living, was not reported.
<Creggaun, Doora, House 8, unknown>
3.0 Anne McNamara (1839 – likely after 1868) was baptized on 28 April 1839, mother reported as “Bridget O’Malley”; sponsors William Liddy and Bridget Liddy (Newmarket baptisms, 1828-1866).
Anne McNamara was likely the baptism sponsor of her niece, Catherine McNamara, in 1868 (see 2.1 above). Later whereabouts are unknown.
4.0 Patrick McNamara (1842 – 1861) was baptized on 6 August 1842, mother reported as “Bridget Maley”; sponsors Michael O'Neil and Mary Maley (Newmarket baptisms, 1828-1866).
Patrick McNamara died in 1861. His headstone #1 is adjacent to headstone #2 for his brother, Andrew; both are located at P23 in the Fenloe graveyard cemetery listing at the Clare library:
************************
The outrageous shooting into the home of Andrew McNamara of Creggaun townland (Doora parish) on 9 October 1880 was only a few months after a similar midnight shooting into the home of William Halpin of Kiltannon (Tulla parish). Coincidentally, both the Halpin and McNamara families originated from Tomfinlough parish and might have been considered “outsiders” in their parish. While there might be “no clue, beyond a well grounded suspicion” to the perpetrators of the McNamara shooting, there are more clues to be revealed as to who shot into the Halpin household, and, I reckon, they might well be the same person.
AGRARIAN OUTRAGE NEAR TULLA.
On Friday morning, between twelve and one o’clock, shots were fired into the dwelling house of William Halpin, land bailiff to Major W. Mills Moloney, D.L., Kiltannon. It appears that the shot was fired through the bedroom window from a revolver, and struck the old-fashioned camp bed-stands on which Halpin and his wife were sleeping. In made an indentation, but the bullet could not be found, as the bed itself was an immovable fixture. Another window at the back of the house was smashed in by a stick. In the morning a threatening notice was found posted on Halpin’s door, of which the following is a copy:—Halpin, I am informed that you are going to buy the hay at Bonavaree, and you are aware of the fine powder and balls I have prepared for you ! If you attempt to take one perch of that meadowing I will shoot you!” There was a drawing of a coffin, with the inscription, “This is ready for you if you like, proceed if you dare.” The farm of Bonavaree was lately surrendered by Mr. J. Kelly, J.P. Port, with the view of getting an abatement of rent, and as no person would take the land Major Molony intended selling the meadowing. This is only one of a series of threatening notices in the district.
Weekly Irish Times, Saturday, 24 July 1880
William Halpin (1843 – 1914) of Kiltannon was a first cousin of Anne Halpin (1845 – after 1911), who married the widower, Matthew McNamara (≈1824 – 1894) of Glandree and thus she was the step-mother of Andrew McNamara (1856 – unknown) who was arrested in New Zealand in 1883 for obstructing an arrest when he and two friends disrupted the first meeting of the Salvation Army in Wellington.
Some 18 months after the two midnight shootings in 1880, Andrew Sheedy McNamara (≈1843 – after 1901) of Glandree was arrested for protesting the arrest of Bridget McCormack of the Ladies’ Land League, along with Denis and Michael Murphy of Laharden (see page 16).
Miss Bridget M’Cormack, a member of the Dublin Executive of the Ladies’ Land League, was arrested at Tulla yesterday and sent to gaol for three months. She was followed by an immense crowd to the railway station, whence she was conveyed to Limerick and lodged in Limerick Gaol. Three farmers, Denis and Michael Murphy, of Laharden, and Andrew M’Namara, of Glendaree, who figured in the demonstration, were arrested and also sent to Limerick Gaol for six months.
Belfast News-Letter, Saturday, 21 January 1882
When the two Murphy’s were arrested in January 1882, their neighbor, Andrew McNamara (1837 – 1918) of Laharden was working as a gardener at a nursery in San Francisco. When Andrew McNamara, the gardener, returned to Laharden in 1895, flush with cash, he purchased several cows which often when into the Murphy lands, such that the Murphy’s were frequent complainants against the McNamara brothers of Laharden in the petty session courts (above and page 25).
On 9 July 1882, John Delahunty was returning from Sunday mass in Ennis and was murdered near Knockanean School. The location of the murder of John Delahunty (often spelt Doloughty) was only a very short distance of the Andrew McNamara family of Plot 1 in Creggaun townland, Doora parish. In the 2005 obituary for Father Edward McNamara, the grandson of Andrew McNamara and Bridget Hayes, the McNamara residence was even reported as Creggaun, Knockanean. One of the first witnesses on the scene was the young Michael Considine, a victualler from Ennis, of a famous family of victuallers. He was returning from making a delivery at Cullane House (the residence of Robert Wogan Studdert, then being boycotted), and would have passed right by the Andrew McNamara home just prior to arriving at the scene of the crime.
The Rev. Andrew McNamara (1872 – 1971) of Creggaun townland would have been going on eight years old when his family home was shot into by moonlighters in 1880. When John Delahunty was murdered in 1882 near Andrew’s home by Knockanean School, he would have been just one month shy of ten years old. The Rev. Andrew McNamara, “a much loved and almost legendary figure in West Clare” who lived to be 99 years old, was known for his stories especially regarding the haunted rectory at Baltard House in Killard (Doonbeg) Parish. Might Father Andy also have told his parishioners a few stories about the agrarian violence of his youth in Creggaun townland? The Rev. Andrew McNamara died in Doonbeg in 1971, there must be a few long-time parishioners about who might remember his story telling and provide a few clues or interesting bits of information. Although it has been over 140 years since the outrageous shootings and murders by moonlighters in East Clare and thereabouts, I reckon the local residents might still be reluctant to talk to a foreigner. The traditional code of silence, to “Say Nothing”. However, incredibly, I reckon a visit to West Clare might be very promising as their residents actually might be more than willing to share the stories passed down to them by the Rev. Andrew McNamara of Creggaun.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day.