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The big red book for Brother Sean

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It was an occasion that did justice to the one-time popular television documentary This is Your Life. The special guest was a local personality and the event took place in familiar surroundings and many neighbours and friends from all parts of Clare participated.
The guest was Brother Sean MacNamara, the occasion was his 85th birthday and the venue was his former home in Kilmurry McMahon, which has been developed into the Rambling House meeting place by local man Paul Markham.
The host for the evening was Mr Markham, who had his own Red Book on the life and times of Brother MacNamara.
He told the gathering that October 10, 1927 was a very happy day for Michael and Margaret McNamara of Kilmurry East, Kilmurry McMahon, as on that day their second son, John, was born. It was also a day of jubilation for his five-year-old brother, Daniel, as he would now have a brother to play with and later to attend the local national school. The new arrival was baptised in the local St Mary’s Church by Fr Michael Considine, PP, on October 11, 1927.
Five years went by until the future scholar attended Drumdigus National School. He walked to school with local neighbours the Studderts, O’Driscolls and Dalys. There, he was taught by Master Fitzgerald and Mrs McAuliffe. John was confirmed on May 31, 1938 by Bishop Fogarty.
John was kept busy on school holidays, helping out with the daily chores feeding hens, going to the well, sowing potatoes and helping with the harvesting of the turf.
He attended the Christian Brothers Secondary School in Kilrush and made many friends and a colleague of his from the 1930s at Drumdigus National School, Sean Johnson, flew home from the United States for the celebration party.
On completion of secondary studies, John attended Baldoyle and Marino in preparation for his teaching profession and was professed and received the name Brother Walter in religious life. Brother Walter, or Brother Seán, as he is known, came from a very devout family – he already had three aunts nuns, an uncle a Holy Ghost priest and an uncle a provincial of the Christian Brothers in England.
Daniel, his brother, was sacristan at St Mary’s Kilmurry McMahon for over 50 years. Dan is now a patient in Kilrush Hospital, in his 91st year. He could not make it to the night but sent his greetings to his brother and friend.
During Brother Seán’s life as a teacher he came in contact with thousands of people at various locations such as Clonmel, Artane, Monaghan, Parnell Square, Drogheda, Trim, Marino, Galway, Ballinrobe and Rome.
Since 1999, he has been retired from the classroom but that word retired is not associated with Brother Sean. He has researched and written many booklets, appeared and spoke on television and radio, produced DVD’s, contributed to local and national newspapers not forgetting world coverage through the internet.
Brother Sean is a fluent Irish speaker and has written extensively, promoting his native language. He has come in contact with celebrities, bishops, archbishops, cardinals and Holy Fathers John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
2OO2 was a very historic year for Brother Seán when news reached the county that he had been chosen as Clare Person of the Year by the Clare Association in Dublin. The association chairman described him as indefatigable, good humoured, decent and wholesome. In 2003, he celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of his profession with the Christian Brothers. In recent years he was the recipient of an honoury degree from NUIG.
He has made annual pilgrimages to Fatima, Lourdes, Rome and Medugorjie, not forgetting monthly pilgrimages to Knock.
Brother Sean has many qualities, his knowledge on botany, local history, electronics, photography and writing is comprehensive. He has recorded over and over again pages on Michael Cusack, founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association and had several articles on the famous poet and scholar Peter O’Connell. Some of his publications include Flora and Fauna of the Burren, Mary Gardens, Clare’s Wonderland, Flora of the Bible, plus regular contributions to The Clare Champion.
A man of faith, example and leadership, Brother Sean has added a new dimension to monastic life, enriched with personality and a céad mile fáilte to each person he comes in contact with.
He is a healthy and athletic person who could be in Ennis today, in Trinity College 24 hours later and the following day be giving a guided tour in the Burren.
Friends from far and near celebrated the night with Brother Sean. They included Des Crowe, Cumann Lúthcleas Gael, Fr John Kelly PP; Fr Tom McGrath, MHF (Labasheeda); Seán Johnson from Buffalo, USA; Trevor Markham from Sydney; cousins, friends and neighbours and others who travelled from all parts of the Banner County.
The evening was enhanced with singers Anne Morrissey and Ciara Cahill accompanied by violinist Jennifer Markham.
Glowing tributes were paid to Brother Seán by Des Crowe, Fr Tom McGrath, MHM, and Seán Johnson. A poem by Sheila Morrissey was also recited on the night for the big occasion.

 

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