Joseph O'Mara, the opera singer

• References:
  • Article on Joseph O'Mara, The Crescent School Historical Review.

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • The First Opera Recordings, 1895-1902: A Survey (audio CD, 2003). Contains song "Friend and Lover", sung by Joseph O'Mara.
  • "Joseph O'Mara", by Robert Potterton, with additional information from Joseph O'Mara's dau Mrs. Eileen O'Mara Carton, 1970.
    • Reprinted in North Munster Antiquarian Journal, Vol. 32, 1990.

  • "Joseph O'Mara: Operatic Tenor", by Anthony Riordan, Old Limerick Journal, No.29, Winter 1992.

  • "Joseph O'Mara", by Gus Smith, Irish Stars of the Opera, Madison Publishers Ltd, 1994.
    • Repub in The Limerick Anthology, edited by Jim Kemmy, 1996.

  • Items about Irish men and women (incl Joseph O'Mara), Irish Monthly, 19:157-62, Mar 1891.

These pictures are in my own family.
So I think it is alright for me to include them here. If not, let me know.
These are scans of [Potterton, 1990].

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,
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 Drury Lane,
was in pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, in Drury Lane,
1894 first appearance as tenor in Covent Garden Theatre in Grand Opera, think chief tenor there also,
starred as Lohengrin (the leading role, and leading Tenor role) in Wagner's "Lohengrin", with Sir Augustus Harris' Company, 1894-5,
sang in Grand Opera in Liverpool, was in pantomime, Aladdin, in the Prince of Wales, Liverpool,
mar pre-1897 (NOT 1916) to Bride Power [only dau of Mr. J. Power, of Waterford],
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",

granted Freedom of Limerick 1908,
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,
Bride fl 1922,
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 sang on the first day Irish radio started, 1 Jan 1926,
played "Lohengrin" again for his farewell performance when he retired 1926,
he died 1927, age 63 yrs,
death not found in [GRO.UK] 1926-28,
had issue:

1. Eileen O'Mara, born 19th Sept 1897,
   mar Fonso Carton and had issue.

2. Nora O'Mara,
   mar Dr. Bill Cusson [of Rathangan, WC Co.Kildare, on Offaly border], no issue,
   he died 1972,
   she died Oct 1984.

3. Power O'Mara,
   born 1899, his mother's surname as first name,
   he is in photo at Barfield c.1918 with his O'Mara cousins and their cousins the Riordans,
   came up to Dublin from Limerick,
   in IRA in War of Independence,
   mar Joan ---- [English],
   he died c.1970, age c.71 yrs,
   had issue:
   1. Mary O'Mara, mar and had issue.
   2. Ruth O'Mara, mar and had issue.
   3. Eileen O'Mara, partner of Eamon Walsh and had issue.

4. Moya O'Mara,
   or Maïra, born May 1903,
   there is a photo of "our darling Moya, taken in Portrush Oct 1921, died ... from her heart-broken Daddy and Mammy",
   died 6th Apr 1922, age 18 yrs.

5. Fr. Joey O'Mara, Joe,
   Jesuit priest,
   died Feb 1980.

Joseph O'Mara as Lohengrin in Wagner's "Lohengrin", 1894-5.
See bmp version from here.
See alternate scan from here.

Joseph O'Mara as Romeo in Charles Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette".
See bmp version from here.
See alternate scan.

Joseph O'Mara as Lieutenant Pinkerton in Puccini's "Madame Butterfly", 1904 or later.
See bmp version from here.

Joseph O'Mara as Tannhauser in Wagner's "Tannhauser".
See bmp version from here.

Joseph O'Mara, the opera singer, 1911.
See bmp version from here.

Plaque to Joseph O'Mara on Hartstonge House, Limerick.
Photo 2006. See full size.
It says he lived here, though this was his brother Stephen O'Mara's house - when did Joseph live here?

• Open Source Audio at archive.org
  • 78rpm records, early 20th century
    • Joseph O'Mara

• Derek Walsh is researching Irish Composers and Singers, including O'Mara.

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