Residence of the late Michael MacNamara, Leimnaleha

Michael Augustus MacNamara from Leimnaleha was the only person from the school catchment area to qualify as a barrister-at-law. He was born on 8 March 1857 to James MacNamara from Leimnaleha and Anne O’Dea from Crahera. Michael appears to have had little interest in farming the home farm, which he was to inherit. Instead, he qualified as a national school teacher and taught at Killerk, County Clare (1875−1878), Newport, County Mayo (1878 – 1881) and Claremorris, County Mayo (1881−1883). On resigning, he stated he was returning home to manage his farm and that he intended to seek admission to the Law Society, King’s Inns and also to become a land surveyor.

He entered King’s Inns on 25 October 1890, studied in Dublin, including Trinity College, and qualified as a barrister on 6 January 1896. The records show that his official address to 1917for the purpose of his practice was Clonroad House, Clonroad, Ennis, County Clare. During this period, he resided at Leimnaleha and maintained the farm.

On 9 January 1913 an attempt was made to murder him. He survived the shooting, having returned fire, but received a bullet wound to the arm. He decided to leave the area and moved his practice to Dublin. The move was complete in 1917 and his new official address became 156 Clonliffe Road. He practised in Dublin until his death on 12 May 1928. The house where he resided at Leimnaleha was later purchased by his cousin, Martin McNamara and is now owned by the Convey family.