O'Meara of Toomyvara, Co.Tipperary
O'Mara of Limerick city
- References:
- Sources yet to be consulted:
The O'Meara family (O'Meadhra in Irish)
are from
Toomevara
or Toomyvara,
Aghnameadle par, E of Nenagh
(on the Dublin road),
N Co.Tipperary
(see map).
The village is named after them - Tuaim ui Mheadhra
(or Tuaim ui Mheara), "Tomb of the O'Mearas".
The O'Meara family
is found in the area
since at least the time of:
Alan O'Meara,
obtained a grant of lands around Ballymackey,
Co.Tipperary,
from the 2nd Earl of Ormonde in 1354.
Ballymackey is in
Ballymackey par, NW of Toomyvara
(between Toomyvara and Nenagh,
see map).
The ruin of the tiny Ballymackey Castle survives today
in the middle of a piggery.
From him probably descends
the whole O'Meara family of that area
(though of course there is no way
of proving it).
Martin J. O'Mara (or O'Meara)
uses the old spelling "O'Meara"
in letter 1872.
Though in another letter he uses "O'Mara".
See full size.
Our line starts with:
--- O'Meara,
of Toomyvara, Co.Tipperary,
one O'Mara family tree says his wife was Margaret Casey
of "Cloheen Mills",
that is, Casey
is mother of James rather than
his wife's mother,
had issue:
-
Andrew O'Mara,
Andy,
adopted spelling "O'Mara",
went to London, Ontario, Canada.
-
John O'Meara,
went to Liverpool.
- Francis O'Meara,
referred to as "Uncle Frank" by
Martin J. O'Mara.
- Michael O'Meara.
- James O'Meara (later O'Mara),
born 1817, Toomyvara, Co.Tipperary,
meant to have risen from absolute poverty
- though if so, then his brother rose too.
- (dau) O'Meara,
mar --- Kelly,
this could be "Mary Meara" who mar 1835 [Toomyvara RC par records] to "James Kelly"
from Garrane (prob. Garrane, Aghnameadle par, Co.Tipperary),
they lived in
Liverpool,
had issue:
- (dau) Kelly,
mar --- Murray,
lived Liverpool,
had issue:
- (son) Murray,
when Fr. Paddy O'Mara
was in France in
WWI
he had a batman
named Murray
who claimed to be his cousin
and who came from Liverpool.
- (other issue) Murray, lived Liverpool.
- (dau) O'Meara,
think Mary,
though apparently her brother James's will
says otherwise,
(todo) see it,
could not be Mary if Mary was the one who mar Kelly above,
mar --- Lynch [of Limerick city],
think "Andrew Lynch" [family letters],
mar not found in [Toomyvara RC par records],
these could be
"Mary Lynch" who sp the baptism of John O'Mara 1852,
or "Bridget Lynch" who sp the baptism of Jack O'Mara 1856,
or "Thomas Lynch" and "Mary-Anne Lynch"
who sp the baptism of Jim O'Mara 1858,
or "Michael Lynch" and "Mary Lynch"
who sp the baptism of Hanora O'Mara 1860,
or "Mary A. Lynch" who wit the mar of Bridget O'Mara 1861,
had issue:
- Kate Lynch,
mar Michael Spain [of Nenagh, Co.Tipperary],
he lived Hartstonge St,
he was Sheriff of Limerick 1893,
he is listed as High Sheriff of Limerick, and
T.C. (Town Councillor) for Shannon Ward, Limerick,
living Hartstonge St,
in
[Thoms, 1893],
he was at Jim's funeral 1893,
had issue:
- Cis Spain,
mar Jim Gaffney [Crown Solicitor in Limerick c.1900].
He must be Jim Gaffney, solicitor, prominent in Limerick Boat Club
temp 1870s-80s.
See article
in Limerick Leader.
- ---- O'Meara, had issue:
- Nora ----,
"Your old cousin Nora" writes to
Stephen O'Mara 1892
from Loreto Convent, Wexford
(she must be a nun),
she seems to refer to
James O'Meara (later O'Mara)
as her uncle.
Kate Lynch, who married Michael Spain.
Send me additions and corrections to this site
|
