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Joseph O'Mara, the opera singer

Joseph O'Mara, the opera singer.
See bmp version. From here.
Joseph O'Mara, the opera singer (see here and here),
born 16th July 1864, Limerick,
educ Jesuit school, The Crescent, Limerick,
at age of 18 (i.e. 1882), largely through influence of schoolfriends, thought had fancy for the sea, his father said: "Go ahead my boy, the sooner you go, the sooner you come back", went to sea for 12 months, returned "having seen as much as I wanted to in that time",
sang in St.Michael's Church choir, Denmark St, Limerick (near his home), encouraged by friend J.F. Murray,

Tenor opera singer, "the Irish Caruso",
studied opera in Milan under Signor Moretti, 1889-91,
first sang in public when he got the part of Ivanhoe in production of the new opera "Ivanhoe" by Sullivan (of Gilbert and Sullivan) at the new "Royal English Opera House" (now the Palace Theatre), London,
"Ivanhoe" premiered 31 Jan 1891, with alternating casts, Joseph began as Ivanhoe 4th Feb 1891,
his brother Stephen had business in London and saw him perform as Ivanhoe 25 Feb 1891,
some sources say he performed Ivanhoe there for 12 months until 1892, other sources say "Ivanhoe" ended July 1891,
for 3 years he was chief tenor at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, nr Covent Garden,
was in pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, in Drury Lane,
1894 first appearance as tenor in Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in Grand Opera, chief tenor there also,
starred as Lohengrin (the leading role, and leading Tenor role) in Wagner's "Lohengrin", with Sir Augustus Harris' Company, 1894-95,
sang in Grand Opera in Liverpool, was in pantomime, Aladdin, in the Prince of Wales, Liverpool,
listed as "musical artist", living London, at mar,

mar 24 June 1896, Rathmines RC church, Co.Dublin [GROI]
to Bride Power [Bridget, born 1873, only dau of Michael Power, "manager of bacon factory", of Waterford, she was living Waterford at mar],

sang for Carl Rosa Opera Company,
a recording of him survives from 1901, it was featured on Mo Cheol Thu, RTE Radio 1, Sun 25th Oct 1992,
performed Maritana with the Moody-Manners Company in London, 1902, leading tenor with them,
starred as Don Jose (the hero and the leading Tenor role) when in 1903 the Moody-Manners Company performed "Carmen" at the Queen's Theatre, Holbeck, Leeds,
starred as Romeo (the hero and the leading Tenor role) in Charles Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette",
starred as Lieutenant Pinkerton (the villain and the leading Tenor role) in Puccini's "Madame Butterfly", 1904 or later,
starred as Tannhauser (the leading role, and leading Tenor role) in Wagner's "Tannhauser",
other operas he sang in included "Faust" and "The Jewess" and "Aida" and "Tosca",

granted Freedom of Limerick 1908,
think this was the time when he sang from the balcony of Hartstonge House to a huge crowd gathered on the street,
[Irish Independent, 30 Oct 1967] quotes Michael Rynne (then a child), who recalls how "Catherine Street - lit up from end to end by tar-barrels and torches - was packed by hundreds of people who listened in dead silence to that truly magnificent voice which required no microphone to carry it down towards William Street.",
toured the US,
on his return founded O'Mara's Travelling Opera Company (or the O'Mara Opera Company Ltd) 1912, he was Managing Director and leading singer,
gave free concert in Limerick 1916,
his company performed Puccini's "La Boheme" and "Madame Butterfly" at the Theatre Royal, Leeds, 1918,
his company performed Verdi's "Rigoletto" at the Theatre Royal, Leeds, 1921, see here,
he sang in Australia,
he sponsored an annual "O'Mara Cup" at the Feis Ceoil,
biography in [Thom's Irish Who's Who, 1923] lists him as living 6 Adelphi Terrace, London, W.C. (right in the heart, see map),
he was living "Glenmore", 14 Ailesbury Park, off Merrion Rd, Dublin, at dau's death 1925,
he sang on the first day Irish radio started, 1 Jan 1926, he sang "The Bard of Armagh",
his brother Stephen (who died later that year) ordered the finest new radio from America so that a gathering of relatives and friends in Limerick could hear him,
(todo) in 1966, on the 40th anniversary of Irish radio, stamps were issued, and the first day cover booklet mentions O'Mara singing,
retired Mar 1926 [obituary], he played "Lohengrin" again for his farewell performance when he retired,
his last public appearance was at concerts to celebrate 700 years of Dominicans in Limerick, Mar 1927 [Riordan, 1992],

he died 5 Aug 1927, at his house, "Glenmore", 14 Ailesbury Park, Dublin, age 63 yrs [GROI],
oddly, he is simply listed as "Company Manager" on death cert,
see death notice, Irish Times, Saturday, August 6, 1927,
see obituary, Irish Times, Saturday, August 6, 1927,
Limerick city flag flew at half mast at the town hall, see Irish Times, Monday, August 8, 1927,
funeral Mon 8 Aug, private funeral, messages of sympathy received from President W.T. Cosgrave and Bryan Cooper TD,
bur Glasnevin Cemetery,
see funeral report, Irish Times, Tuesday, August 9, 1927,
see obituary, Irish Times, Saturday, August 13, 1927, p.4 and p.3,

Bride listed as living 18 Ailesbury Rd, Dublin, in grave record 1935,
she died 11 Sept 1935, "Verdella", Church Rd, Greystones, Co.Wicklow, age 62 yrs [GROI],
see death notice, Irish Independent, September 13, 1935,
funeral 13 Sept, bur Glasnevin Cemetery,
see funeral report, Irish Independent, Saturday, September 14, 1935,
had issue:
  1. Eileen O'Mara, born 19th Sept 1897,
    see 1914 photo,
    mar pre-1920 to Fonso Carton and had issue.


  2. Nora O'Mara,
    see 1914 photo,
    mar Dr. Bill Cussen [William R. Cussen, of Rathangan, Co.Kildare, think NOT Cusson],
    no issue,
    he registered his mother-in-law's death 1935, he is listed as living Church Rd, Greystones, Co.Wicklow,
    he died 1972,
    she died Oct 1984.


  3. Power O'Mara [son], born 1899,
    his mother's surname as first name.


  4. Moya O'Mara,
    or Maïra, "Maire" on grave, "Maria" in grave record,
    born 1902 [grave record],
    or poss. May 1903,
    there is a photo of "our darling Moya, taken in Portrush Oct 1921, died ... from her heart-broken Daddy and Mammy",
    died 7 Aug 1925, age 23 yrs [grave],[grave record],
    apparently NOT 6th Apr 1922,
    (todo) try death of Marie O'Mara, Dublin South, 1st qr 1926, age 23 (born 1903), [GROI], vol 2 p 294,
    bur Glasnevin Cemetery.


  5. Fr. Joey O'Mara,
    Joseph, Joe,
    Jesuit priest,
    celebrated the mass for his mother's funeral 1935, described as "Rev. Joseph O'Mara, S.J., Louvain",
    died Feb 1980.

Joseph O'Mara.
See larger and full size.



Joseph O'Mara, the opera singer, 1911.
See bmp version from here.
Also in Irish Times, Saturday, August 6, 1927,



Grave of Joseph O'Mara, the opera singer, Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.
Photo 2010. See full size and other shot.
See close-up and other shot.
On the grave is written a verse from Psalm 13 referring to Joseph's singing: "I will sing to the Lord who giveth me good things, yea, I will sing to the name of the Lord, the Most High".



The original plaque to Joseph O'Mara on Hartstonge House, Limerick.
This was erected 26 Oct 1967.
See [Limerick Leader, 28 Oct 1967] and [Irish Independent, 30 Oct 1967].
It has been replaced by the plaque below.
It says he lived here, though this was his brother Stephen O'Mara's house - when did Joseph live here?
See larger and full size.



The present plaque to Joseph O'Mara on Hartstonge House, Limerick.
Photo 2006. See full size.

Joseph O'Mara, the opera singer (pictures)

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