Family tree - O'Meara - Dr. Frank O'Mara

 
O'Meara Contents


Dr. Frank O'Mara
Dr. Frank O'Mara, bapt 18th Sept 1862, Limerick,
doctor, educ Apothecaries Hall (NOT Apothecary's Hall), apparently linked to TCD, Dublin,
at this time Apothecaries Hall was at 40 Mary St (nr Capel St), Dublin,
Apothecaries Hall is now at 95 Merrion Square (at Clare St),
he must be Francis O'Mara, present at birth of his sister Margaret Judge's child in Dublin, Feb 1882, his address given as his sister's address, Howth Rd, Clontarf, he must have lived with them while doing his studies in Dublin,
it was remembered that Frank was up in Dublin the day of the Phoenix Park murders 6 May 1882,
as a medical student, he got into some kind of trouble (possibly with a girl), and sailed to Australia, worked there as a medical assistant,
came back after 1 year, "came home unscathed by his adventures", qualified,
MD, LAH (Licentiate of Apothecaries Hall), LRCSI,
worked as assistant in Limerick mental hospital,
listed as Assistant Medical Officer, Limerick County Lunatic Asylum, Limerick, in [Thoms, 1893],
very lively youth, was remembered for years afterwards, finally settled down and married,
listed as living Limerick at mar,

mar [think 14] Nov 1894, Church of Our Lady of Refuge, Rathmines, Co.Dublin [GROI]
to Mary Plunkett [Cis, family of Co.Meath, though [Census, 1901] says she was born Co.Dublin, 1867, [GROI] says dau of James Plunkett, merchant],
she is listed as living 3 Le Bas Terrace, Rathmines, at mar,
her brother was Alderman Ambrose Plunkett, solicitor in Dublin, he sp bapt of Susan 1898, think he left Mary a lot of money,
older children born Limerick,
then moved to Ennis, Co.Clare, c.1899, younger children born Co.Clare,

he was head of the District Lunatic Asylum, Ennis, Co.Clare (founded 1868, later Our Lady’s Hospital, Ennis, closed 2002, see history),
he was RMS (Regional Medical Superintendent), head doctor, and also ran the place,
they actually lived in the Asylum, living quarters were in middle of the building, apartment just inside hall door on LHS, they also had a large domestic staff - composed of the more competent inmates, asylum had its own garden/farm, lot of food grown there, Dr. Harry Counihan (junior) says he hadn't large salary, but they "lived like Dukes",
registered his father's death 1899, listed as living at Ennis Asylum [GROI],
though probate of his father's will granted to "Frank O'Mara of Mulgrave St, Limerick, MD" 1899 [NAI],
see entry for his family at the Asylum in [Census, 31 Mar 1901], he is described as "Resident Medical Superintendant-Physician-Surgeon", her widowed mother living (or at least staying) with them, they seem to have 3 domestic servants,
[Pat Lavelle] says that once in their living quarters at the Asylum: "The nurse in charge of the children was feeding the baby its bottle when she observed with horror a maniacal lunatic under the bed with a knife in her hand. The silly girl flung the baby on the bed and ran out shrieking to find Aunt Cis, and it was she who walked back to the bedroom and picked up her baby as if nothing had disturbed her and quietly turned the key in the door as she went out",
their family was very Establishment, they were Catholic, would have voted Home Rule, but no time for militant Nationalists, their daus married members of British Army in Ireland,
[Pat Lavelle] says: "Politically, Dad" [his nephew James O'Mara] "and he were as the poles apart. Uncle Frank's outlook was frankly a West Briton one",
he was oldest RMO (Regional Medical Officer) in Ireland when retired 1930s,
when retired, he built house in Ennis, called it "Toomyvara",
Mary died many years before he did,
despite their political differences he was good friends with his nephew James O'Mara, in old age he used go fishing in Connemara during summer with James,
he died 1949, age 87 yrs,
had issue:


  1. Molly O'Mara,
    Mary, born Co.Limerick, mid-late 1896 [Census, 1901],
    bapt not found in [St.John's, Limerick],
    mar think 1915 [her age 19 yrs] to Dr. Harry Counihan [Jerome Henry Counihan, born think 1890, Kilrush, Co.Clare],
    he was GP in Ennis, Co.Clare,
    he must be "Dr. J.H. Counihan" listed in charge of the Fever Hospital, County Home, Ennis, in [Thom's, 1945],
    he did Counihan family tree, he may have looked at O'Mara family tree, (todo) any papers survive?,
    she died 1968, age 72 yrs,
    he died think 1978, age 88 yrs,
    had issue:

    1. Fr. John Counihan.
    2. Dr. Harry Counihan, mar Eileen Gonty and had issue:
      1. Michael Counihan.
      2. Mary Counihan.
      3. Catherine Counihan.
      4. Clare Counihan.
      5. Joan Counihan.
      6. Jane Counihan.
      7. Henry Counihan.
      8. Eileen Counihan.
    3. Randal Counihan.
    4. Mary Counihan.
    5. Dr. Frank Counihan, mar Mimi Kerrigan and had issue:
      1. Caroline Counihan.
      2. Francesca Counihan.
      3. Rachel Counihan.
      4. Helen Counihan.
      5. Eve Counihan.
    6. Roger Counihan.
    7. Honor Counihan.
    8. Ruth Counihan.


  2. Nora O'Mara,
    born Co.Limerick, bapt Hanorah, 17 July 1897 [St.John's, Limerick],
    mar think 1921 to Billy West [English],
    he was an English member of British Army in Ireland, during the Troubles, while she had many relations active in Sinn Fein and IRA,
    he stayed in Army,
    she lived in Army HQ in England until death,
    she died c.1984, age c.87 yrs,
    had issue:
    1. Robin West, mar and had issue.
    2. Jill West, mar and had issue.


  3. Dorothy O'Mara,
    she has to be "Susan O'Mara", dau of Frank, who was bapt 22 Aug 1898 [St.John's, Limerick],
    since dau Dorothy is listed as born Co.Limerick, age 2, in [Census, 31 Mar 1901],
    mar Harold Manson [Scottish],
    he was a Scottish member of British Army in Ireland, during the Troubles, while she had many relations active in Sinn Fein and IRA,
    he left Army,
    was civilian rubber planter in Malay peninsula when Japanese invaded 1941-42,
    wife and children evacuated to Australia, but he was imprisoned by Axis Japan for years,
    not freed until end of war 1945, survived, but never got his health back,
    joined family in Australia,
    he died Australia, c.1955-57,
    she died c.1987/8, age c.89/90 yrs,
    had issue:
    1. Jean Manson, mar and had issue.
    2. Sheila Manson, mar --- Thompson and had issue.


  4. Frank O'Mara, twin,
    born 1899-1900, Co.Clare, listed as age 1 in [Census, 31 Mar 1901],
    didn't marry.


  5. Jim O'Mara, James, twin,
    born 1899-1900, Co.Clare, listed as age 1 in [Census, 31 Mar 1901],
    didn't marry.


  6. Nan O'Mara,
    didn't marry.


  7. Joan O'Mara, born c.1910,
    didn't marry,
    she inherited the house "Toomyvara" in Ennis,
    lived 44 Fairfield Park, Greystones, Co.Wicklow,
    died c.1987/8, age c.77/8 yrs.

"F. O'Mara" (back).
From photo of the employees of O'Mara's Limerick factory in 1939.
See larger and full size.
Wonder if this is Frank O'Mara (junior) above.

Send me additions and corrections to this site

Updates (please include your name and contacts):
Send me a file from your computer:

If you don't understand this form, use the long version.
Or just email me.


Enter this password: