ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Lieutenant-Colonel James (Jim) McNamara of Ashfield Park, Naas, County Kildare, and formally of Limerick and The Curragh, on 18th August 2025. Jim passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family. Predeceased by his wife Maureen (née Kelly), cherished grandson Ruadhán, his parents Joseph and Rose and brother Eric. Very deeply regretted by his son Ronan, daughters Commandant Finola (66 Cadet Class), Commandant Éadaoin (68 Cadet Class), and Clare, daughter-in-law Lynn, sons-in-law, Nick, Eamon and Niall, grandchildren Eoin, James, Joseph, Eleanore Rose, Jack, Ciara, Máirín, Fionn, Oisín, Ríona, Sadhbh and Conall. Jim will be missed by his close friend Helen, his Defence Forces comrades, neighbours and his many friends. The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude for the care, compassion and dignity shown to Jim by the staff at Curragh Lawns Nursing Home.
May Jim Rest In Peace
James (Jim) McNamara was born on 15th August 1944 and enlisted in the Defence Forces as a member of 38 Cadet Class on 7th October 1963. He was commissioned on 27th September 1965 into the Infantry Corps and was appointed as a Platoon Commander, 2 Recruit Company in the General Training Depot, Curragh. He went on to serve in 3 Infantry Battalion in the Curragh Training Camp, a unit he had a long association with. Jim served on the border on a number of occasions with both 17 Infantry Group and 29 Infantry Battalion. Other appointments included 9 Infantry Battalion FCA, Headquarters Curragh Command, Headquarters 6 Brigade, and the Air Corps.
Jim had significant overseas service. He was a Platoon Commander with A Company, 8 Infantry Group UNFICYP in Cyprus in 1967. He served with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in the Middle East in 1975/1976 and was Company Commander, B Company, 69 Infantry Battalion in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in 1991. Jim was a Military Observer with the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) during 1993/1994 and returned to UNIFIL as Officer Commanding the Force Mobile Reserve in 1997. He served in Vienna with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2000/2001, and, finally, in headquarters United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) in 2001/2002 where he was also Senior Irish Officer, Irish Contingent. His daughter Éadaoin served with UNMEE at the same time with the Irish Guard Component.
A keen rugby player and a valued member of Curragh Rugby Club, Jim was also an enthusiastic golfer as well as an active member of the Curragh Musical Society, which formed a major part of the social life in the Curragh during the 1960s.
Reposing at Anderson & Leahy’s Funeral Home, Henry Street, Newbridge, Eircode W12 W584 on Thursday from 4pm with prayers at 7pm. Removal on Friday morning at 10.30am to arrive at Saint Brigid’s Church, The Curragh for Mass at 11am which can be viewed on https://www.facebook.com/TheCurraghChurch/. Burial afterwards in St. Conleth’s Cemetery, Newbridge. Donations in lieu of flowers to Irish Cancer Society in Memory of James (Jim) McNamara Lt Col. Retd at: https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/JJ86520742/donate.html. Funeral home private on Friday morning please.
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Jim’s death notice on rip.ie at: https://rip.ie/death-notice/james-jim-mcnamara-lt-col-retd-kildare-naas-602780
