Former Ratoath parish priest and founder of Schola Cantorum music school
OBITUARY: Fr Frank MacNamara
Fr Frank MacNamara, the former parish priest of Ratoath, and founding director of the Schola Cantorum music school at St Finian's College, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, has died, aged 93.
The Clara, Co Offaly, native was parish priest in Ratoath from 1984 to 1998, when he was succeeded by Fr Gerry Stuart. Born on 5th May 1931, he was educated at the Franciscan Boys National School, Clara, St Finian’s College, Mullingar, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth and University College Dublin (UCD), where he undertook a Bachelors in Music Degree.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1956 and was then appointed to the staff of St Finian’s College where he taught until 1984. During his time there he was the first director of the Schola Cantorum which was established there by the Irish hierarchy in 1970, and he also periodically taught chant and choral pedagogy at Maynooth and at UCD from 1967 until 1984.
Fr MacNamara’s contribution to the Schola was immense as the task set by the Irish hierarchy of establishing the specialist music school fell entirely on him. In doing so, he broke new ground and he set the high standards of teaching and learning which have permeated the Schola ever since. During his years as director, he proved to be an extraordinarily gifted musician, possessing an innate musicianship and standards of perfection, which he communicated to his students as core benchmarking principles. His vision for the Schola was that it would educate and train its gifted students as future organists and leaders in the music profession throughout the land, a vision that he had the satisfaction of seeing realised.
A choral trained conductor and organist, Fr MacNamara directed several Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas in St Finian’s. When Mullingar Choral Society was founded as a concert choir in 1968, he conducted its first public performance, the ‘Faure Requiem’. Pádhraic Ó Cuinneagáin, one of the first students at the Schola Cantorum, now lecturer in music at TU Dublin Conservatoire, recalls Fr MacNamara as “a kind-hearted, honourable, compassionate, fair-minded and good-humoured man whose genuine love of teaching, and considerable knowledge of music and the wider arts commanded the respect of students of the Schola Cantorum.
Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, he said: “Fr Frank took great interest in the musical development of all of the students in his care and cultivated a learning environment in the school where they could thrive, where the journey in pursuit of musical knowledge was a joy, and where working to achieve the highest standards of instrumental and vocal performance became the norm. He was a gifted teacher who shared his knowledge generously and who supported and encouraged the efforts of every individual student. He showed tremendous vision in ensuring that the students received not only the highest quality of instrumental tuition and academic teaching, but were also exposed to choral singing, both sacred and secular, ensemble playing, concert performance opportunities and participation in national music competitions.”
Two past pupils in particular have made a huge contribution to Irish Church music, Dr John O’Keeffe, Director of Sacred Music at Maynooth, and Ronan McDonagh, organist and Director of Music at St Teresa’s Carmelite Church, Clarendon Street, Dublin. The Meath Chronicle columnist and Virgin Media political correspondent from Kiltale, Gavan Reilly, is also a past pupil of St Finian’s College and the Schola.
Fr MacNamara's appointment to Ratoath in 1984 was his first parish pastoral appointment after almost 30 years in academia and teaching, although he had spent many summers working in parishes in the USA during his holiday time.
He arrived to a parish in much need of development, and set about getting to know his parishioners, who affectionately knew him as 'Fr Mac'. He had so many qualities which endeared him to the people of this developing parish, kindness, understanding, courtesy, consideration, decency, and a sense of humour. He is recalled as a pastor who was gifted and humble in equal measure with a real care for those entrusted to his pastoral care. He set about major refurbishment projects both at the parochial house and office, and the Church of the Holy Trinity. He spearheaded much fundraising through a very active and committed finance committee, raising the funds for the necessary works to be completed and developing the foundations for the future development of the parish.
His love of church music was evident in Ratoath and through his hard work, commitment and determination he was probably the first and only parish priest to ever fully develop congregational singing at all the liturgies in the parish. A number of his past pupils from his days in St Finian's served as organists in the parish. He was supportive of all sporting initiatives in the parish and the further development of Ratoath Community Centre.
He was very involved with the schools of the parish, in Ratoath and Rathbeggan, both in management and pastorally, encouraging the young students, especially with his love of music and his transformative influence on them, their parents and families at every given opportunity. The people of the parish found him to be a very modest man of great integrity.
Fr MacNamara was appointed to Tullamore parish in 1999 and served there until 2007 when he retired in declining health. In recent years, he lived in retirement in Cluain Lir Care Centre, Mullingar. Predeceased by his brothers, Willie, Fr Vincent (Kiltegan), Enda (Dublin); and his grandniece Róise; he is survived by his brother, Brendan (Portlaoise); sister-in-law, Rita; nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
The Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, Paul Connell, was homilist at his funeral Mass in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, led by Bishop Thomas Deenihan. Burial followed in Clara Monastery Cemetery. Donations in Fr MacNamara’s memory, if desired, can be made to The Society of St Vincent de Paul, Mullingar.