James O'Meara (later O'Mara)

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • To find marriage of James O'Meara and Hanora Foley:
    • Not found in [St.John's, Limerick].
    • Clonmel town, Co.Tipperary, is RC par of St.Mary's, or RC par of St.Peter's and St.Paul's
    • Clogheen, Co.Waterford, is RC par of Newcastle

as a young man, c.1835, he walked out of the village of Toomyvara across Co.Tipperary to the town of Clonmel, S Co.Tipperary, where he met his wife (probably through working in the woollen mills there - her father owned woollen mills there), it seems that he worked in the woollen mills on the Co.Tipperary / Co.Waterford border before he came to Limerick, the story is he met his wife there and they both moved to Limerick where he set up the bacon factory, mar pre-1839, Clonmel, Co.Tipperary, to Hanora Foley [or Honora, born 1822, or poss. 1818], settled in Mungret St, NE end of the new town, Limerick city, in Limerick we know he worked in wool trade for some years, poss. as an agent for his Foley father-in-law, interestingly, there is a "James Mara", woollen draper, 40 Main St, Clonmel, listed in [Slater's directory, 1846], but we know he was already in Limerick by Stephen's bapt 1844, is it possible he had business in both places for some time?, in Kate O'Brien's epic of the rise of the "Considine" family of Limerick, Without My Cloak, the Considines start out as horse thieves and eventually rise to great prosperity, there is no evidence that O'Mearas had such an origin though (or even as "Horse traders" as has been suggested), there was a story put about that "When O'Meara came to Limerick they were horse thieves", but as far as is known, this comes entirely from Kate O'Brien's book, rather, it is clear that O'Mearas started out in wool, and then got into bacon,

he got a job with Mattersons bacon factory, Limerick, as a clerk,
went home one day and said: "This is the last day I'm going to work for anyone",
he set up business on his own, opened O'Meara's Bacon Company 1839, his wife worked in the business with him,
originally sold for Mattersons, then started curing his own,
living Mungret St temp 1844-60 (their children baptised in nearby St.John's), "It was in the basement of this house in Mungret St that bacon was first cured by them" [Pat Lavelle],
slowly, over the years, he worked his way up to become one of the prominent businessmen of the city,
Hanora worked with her husband in setting up O'Maras through the terrible years of Famine after 1845 as "straggling, ragged groups of county people crowded into Limerick looking for work, looking for food" [Pat Lavelle],
he adopted the spelling "O'Mara", the story is he was putting up name on bacon business, felt "O'Meara" was too long commercially, took the "e" out, all descendants since called "O'Mara",
since then many other O'Mearas in the region have standardised to O'Mara, not connected with this family at all,
think he is "O'Mara" in all children's baptisms after 1844,
"James O'Mara" is listed in [Griffiths Valuation, 1850] as occupying 28 Mungret St, St.John's par (near Ebrill and Gould), leasing from Joseph D. Crips (or Cripps),
a dedicated O'Mara's Bacon Factory was set up on Roches St, Limerick,

living Roches St as at 1862-66 [GROI], children bapt in St.Michael's a little to the N on Denmark St,
listed as "James O'Mara", "provision merchant" at children's births and marriages [GROI],
some time between 1866 and 1878 he moved house to 17 Thomas St (just N of Roches St), one of the old town houses, the factory stayed on Roches St,
"James O'Meara" sp bapt of Mary O'Mara 1868,
death notice says he was "an ardent Nationalist",
he was an early supporter of Isaac Butt's Home Rule movement, member (with his son Stephen) of the famous Butt Committee, which secured Butt's election for Limerick city, in by-election, 20 Sept 1871,
he is listed in contributors to "The Butt Testimonial" in Irish Times, May 5, 1875,
there was a Christmas dinner custom in the O'Maras that none of the many children or their husbands and wives or the grandchildren were allowed to speak a word during dinner, no matter how old they were, great opportunity for the parents to expound their views,
"James O'Mara", of St.Michael's par, Limerick, is among those writing an open letter, 4 May 1877, to the Bishop of Limerick, expressing their wish to organise celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of Pope Pius IX (50th anniv of him becoming a bishop),
see Freemans Journal, 9 May 1877, p.2,

Hanora died Kilkee, Co.Clare, 30th [grave] or 31st [GROI] Aug 1878, age 56 yrs [grave] or 60 yrs [GROI],
[GROI] lists her as "Honor O'Mara",
bur Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick,
James erected grave, spelt name "O'Mara",

he is listed as "James O'Meara, merchant" at Jack's mar 1880,
he was a Limerick Poor Law Guardian, listed as such at time of appointment as Sheriff 1887,
High Sheriff of Limerick city 1887, see appointment reported in Irish Times, December 10, 1886,
on Sat 26 Nov 1887, while High Sheriff, he received an Irish-American Fenian come to Limerick to deliver an oration at the unveiling (Sun 27 Nov) of a memorial to the Fenian Manchester Martyrs of Nov 1867 (20 years before), see Irish Times, Mon 28 Nov 1887, his son Stephen (who was a Fenian in his younger years) was also present,
poss. an Alderman,
death notice says he was nominated for Mayor of Limerick but declined,
known as "The Grand Old Man" in later life [Pat Lavelle],
there is a letter Dec 1889: "Give my best love to dear Mr. James O'Mara - our own Grand Old Man - to see him jumping into the Pollock Holes last summer" [deep pools off Kilkee] "like a young boy. I never saw anything like his vitality.",
in 1891 he bought the rights of the Russian Bacon Company, and until 1903 they leased and worked the slaughter and curing houses, situated in or nr Gryazi, on the railway line, nr Lipetsk, Russia, "A Russian manager carried on the business and produced bacon which was shipped to Dad in London" [Pat Lavelle],
he is "James O'Mara" listed as T.C. (Town Councillor) in Limerick Chronicle, 14 January 1892, and at Thomas Ray's funeral 1892,
he is "James O'Mara" listed as T.C. (Town Councillor) for Dock Ward, Limerick, in [Thoms, 1893],
described as a Justice of the Peace at his son Jim's death and funeral 1893, Limerick Corporation passed a Vote of Condolence, saying that the father was "long connected and much associated with the Corporation",
death notice 1899 says he represented the Dock Ward until he resigned at "the termination of the old council",
listed as J.P. at son Jack's mar 1895, and at death 1899,
[Modern Ireland, 1899] says he was also a member of the Limerick Harbour Commissioners, a Governor of the Fever Hospital, and a Trustee of the Limerick Savings Bank,
death notice says he was a magistrate of Limerick, and a "Visiting Justice of the Male and Female Prisons",
died 20th Apr 1899, 17 Thomas St, Limerick, age 82 yrs [grave], [GROI], NOT Feb,
death announced same day, Limerick Chronicle, Thur evening, 20 Apr 1899, says he died "this afternoon",
either funeral was Sun 23 Apr, or newspaper report of funeral was that date, bur Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick, attendance included Bishop of Limerick,
"James O'Mara", "bacon manufacturer", probate of will granted to his sons Stephen and Frank,
estate £5,000 [NAI], this is about £2m in today's money,
had issue:

1. Bridget O'Mara,
   NOT Nora, born 1842,
   bapt not found in [St.John's, Limerick],
   though (todo) see original entry for Bridget O'Mara, bapt [St.John's, Limerick] 29 Dec 1842, dau of James O'Mara and "Hanora Mulcahy",
   she is described as "formerly O'Meara" at son's birth 1868,
   mar 11th Sept 1861 [St.John's, Limerick], wit John Hayes and Mary A. Lynch,
   to Michael Cusack and had issue.

   
   

2. Stephen O'Mara,
   born St.Stephen's Day, 26th Dec 1844, Mungret St, Limerick,
   bapt 26th Dec [St.John's, Limerick],
   he signed his letters "Stout".

   
   

3. Peter O'Mara,
   bapt 11th Mar 1847 [St.John's, Limerick], his mother incorrectly read as "Hanora Daly",
   died as a baby,
   the story goes that his father had some business that took him to Liverpool for a while,
   on his return "he embraced his wife and all the children and distributed the small gifts he had brought back. After a while he asked casually: 'And where is the baby?' Then Great Grandmother answered: 'I meant to tell you that he went to heaven one day last week.'" [Pat Lavelle].

   
   

4. Margaret O'Mara [Maggie, Maggy, NOT Minnie],
   bapt 28th Aug 1848 [St.John's, Limerick],
   she must be "Margaret O'Mara" who wit mar of her 1st cousin Catherine Lynch in 1875,
   living Thomas St, Limerick, at mar,
   mar 1878 to Michael Judge and had issue.

   
   

5. Mary O'Mara, "Poll",
   bapt "Mary-Ann" Oct 1850 [St.John's, Limerick], sp Michael Dillon, Anne Kennedy,
   mar Tom Ray and had issue.

   
   

6. John O'Mara,
   bapt 27th Dec 1852 [St.John's, Limerick], sp Denis Gunes, Mary Lynch,
   died in infancy.

   
   

7. Kate O'Mara, Katie,
   bapt Catherine, 10th Nov 1854 [St.John's, Limerick], sp James Hartney, Alice Shughrue,
   she must be "Kate O'Mara" who wit her sister Margaret's mar 1878,
   she is written "Kathleen" at death,
   mar 1881, Limerick, to Dick Ray and had issue.

   
   

8. Jack O'Mara (second John),
   bapt 26th Dec 1856 [St.John's, Limerick], sp William Sheahan, Bridget Lynch.

   
   

9. Jim O'Mara,
   bapt James, Nov 1858 [St.John's, Limerick].

   
   

10. Hanora O'Mara,
    "Nora" on grave,
    bapt Hanora, 24th Oct 1860 [St.John's, Limerick], sp Michael Lynch, Mary Lynch,
    died 1st Oct 1878, age 17 yrs [grave], just after her mother died,
    bur Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.

    
    

11. Dr. Frank O'Mara,
    born Limerick,
    bapt Francis, 18th Sept 1862 [St.Michael's, Limerick].

    
    

12. Joseph O'Mara, the opera singer, Joe,
    written as "Joseph F. O'Mara" at death,
    born 16th July 1864, Roches St, Limerick [GROI], NOT 1866,
    bapt Joseph, 16th July [St.Michael's, Limerick].

    
    

13. Nan O'Mara,
    born "Anne Mary", Roches St, Limerick, 15th Sept 1866 [GROI],
    bapt "Ann", "21st Aug" (presumably an error for 21st Sept) 1866 [St.Michael's, Limerick],
    her mother died 1878,
    she must be "Anne O'Mara" who wit Frank's mar 1894,
    didn't marry,
    lived with her father at 17 Thomas St, Limerick,
    her father died 1899,
    had serious illness, confined to bed for long time before died [Pat Lavelle],
    died 28th Jan 1905, 6 Alexandra Terrace, Limerick, age 38 yrs, of "dilatation of heart", condition of duration 4 years [GROI].

    
    

14. A letter shows a nephew of Stephen O'Mara, apparently on his side (not on his wife's side), called Ryan.
    He can therefore only be the son of a sister of Stephen O'Mara who married Ryan and had issue:
    1. (son) Ryan,
       nephew of Stephen O'Mara,
       lived Sydney, Australia,
       writes to Stephen an undated letter, address c/o M. Ryan, (illegible) Hotel, Napier, New Zealand.

James O'Mara (formerly O'Meara).

 

O'Mara family, Kilkee, 1895.
2nd row from front has line of old James O'Mara, Ellen Pigott, Stephen O'Mara.
Front RHS looks like James O'Mara. Think front far RHS is NOT Mary O'Mara.
See larger and full size.

 

4 generations photo, 1898.
James O'Mara (formerly O'Meara), his son Stephen, his son James, his son Stephen (born Sept 1896).
See larger and full size.
See close-up of old James.

Joseph and Nan (the two youngest children).
See larger and full size.

Unidentified O'Meara / O'Mara photos

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