Ray

1. Tom Ray, Thomas,
   mar Mary O'Mara [bapt Oct 1850],
   he ran pub, 42 George Street (now O'Connell St), Limerick, family lived there,
   listed as "wine and spirit merchant", 42 George Street, at birth of son 1884,
   he is mentioned as "Uncle Tom" on holiday in Co.Clare in 1888 in [Lavelle, 1961],
   he is listed in [Ashe's Directory, 1891] as a Grocers & Spirit Merchants & wine merchant, 42 George Street,
   she died 1917, age 67 yrs,
   (todo) search [GROI],
   had issue:
   1. Lad Ray,
      Thomas, born 8 May 1884, family home, 42 George Street, Limerick [GROI],
      in [Census, 31 Mar 1901] he is listed as age 16, staying with his uncle Frank's family in Ennis, Co.Clare,
      "He lived in Dublin and had a youthful appearance and manner. He made and lost money as though he were throwing at hazard. Life was brimful of the unexpected for him and he had friends everywhere" [Pat Lavelle],
      owned horse, ran it in races, always lost,
      "and the Rays are going broke!" was the phrase in the O'Mara family,
      mar Elsie Ward,
      "she could take the ball of life as it bounced for Cousin Lad; up and down; down and up; hostess or housewife; she was equal to it either way", "When they were rich they raced and dined and had a tremendous time. When they had less money all the sterling qualities of my cousin Elsie became apparent." [Pat Lavelle],
      her family was in wine trade, publicans,
      they constantly inherited money, always going broke, but some relative on her side would die and they'd come into money,
      two aunts are meant to have died on the RMS Leinster (which was torpedoed by the Germans just outside Dublin Bay in WWI, 10 Oct 1918),
      finally they did go bust, had to go live in flat, Merrion Rd, Dublin, very hard, children just growing up, then think some aunt died, got enough to get going,
      but then Lad died, Elsie left to bring up family on her own,
      he died Spring 1931, age 46 yrs, at that time had no money,
      had issue:
      1. Betty Ray.
      2. Tom Ray.
      3. Joe Ray.
      4. Mary Ray.
      5. Peggy Ray.
      6. (youngest son) Ray, mar and had issue.

   
   

2. Dick Ray, Richard,
   mar 1881, Limerick, to Kate O'Mara [bapt 10th Nov 1854],
   described as "Provision Merchant" at son's birth 1885,
   "Catherine Ray" sp bapt of her niece Nora O'Mara 1897,
   she was living Limerick temp c.1927,
   he died 1930s,
   she died 1934, age 80 yrs,
   (todo) search [GROI],
   had issue:
   1. Jim Ray, James,
      James Mary, born 12 May 1885, 46 Roches St, Limerick, see [GROI],
      in America for many years, played Stock Market, very successfully,
      came back to Limerick,
      mar Hanora Kenney [Nonie, Irish-American, sister of Molly Kenney],
      he was a Director of O'Mara's bacon company at time of O'Mara's centenary, 1939,
      had issue:
      1. Dick Ray, born c.1917,
         mar ---- and had issue.

 

Left to Right: Michael Judge, Nora O'Mara, Kate O'Mara, unknown, Eileen O'Mara, Dick Ray.
Kilkee, 1914.
See larger and full size.

James Ray.
Photo of the Directors of O'Mara's at O'Mara centenary dinner, 1939.
See larger and full size.

• [Bassett's Directory, 1884] lists a "Miss Ray", Trade: "Dress Warerooms", 44 Cecil Street, Limerick.

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