Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
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Mungret St, Limerick
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O'Mara's logos and ads |
O'Mara's bacon company, the source of generations of O'Mara family wealth.
James moved some time in 1856-1862 to
Roches St, centre of new town, Limerick.
A dedicated factory
was set up
near top of Roches St.
The business is listed as "James O'Mara", "provision merchant", Roches St,
in [Directory of Cork & Munster, 1867].
James and his sons
Stephen O'Mara
and
Jack O'Mara
built up the business over the 19th century
into a great success.
Jim O'Mara
was agent for O'Mara's in London
from at least 1886
until he died 1893.
O'Mara's set up the
Russian Bacon Company
in 1891.
From 1891 to 1903
they imported bacon from the
Russian Bacon Company, Gryazi, Russia
into London.
James O'Mara
was agent for O'Mara's in London
from 1893 to 1914.
[Modern Ireland, 1899]
describes
Stephen O'Mara
as then head of
the company,
says "nearly 100" people then employed at Roches St.
Stephen O'Mara
bought bacon factory
in Palmerston, Ontario, Canada.
Joe O'Mara
went out to run it. Opened 1904.
Stephen O'Mara
purchased Donnelly's bacon factory, Dublin, 1906.
Jack O'Mara
was manager of O'Mara bacon factory before his death 1919.
Stephen O'Mara
was Managing Director of O'Mara Ltd as at 1923.
He
founded bacon factory in Claremorris, Co.Mayo, 1930.
He
founded bacon factory in Letterkenny, Co.Donegal.
Marcus O'Sullivan
managed the Limerick factory
c. late 1930s.
In 1938 the family business went public.
Bacon Company of Ireland formed,
with
Jack O'Mara
as Managing Director,
and subsidiaries the 3 bacon factories:
In 1987 the Bacon Company of Ireland
merged with other companies to form Irish Country Bacon.
Mickey O'Mara stopped involvement.
Shortly afterwards the old O'Mara factory in Limerick finally closed,
after 150 years.
In 1988 or 1989 the O'Mara factory was demolished, and the site sold,
became a car park.
The site is now the multi-storey car park
on the entire block bounded by Roches St, Anne St and Roche's Row.
Location of O'Mara's bacon factory, Roches St, Limerick
(the block between Anne St and Roche's Row, see red cross).
From
1887 to 1913 map.
See
modern map.
A wonderful drawing of O'Maras in its heyday.
From a letterhead in or shortly after 1908.
See larger
and full size.
O'Mara's bacon factory, Roches St, Limerick.
Photo 1978.
Junction of Roches St and Anne St.
Looking down Anne St towards Thomas St in the background.
The same location in 2009.
Junction of Roches St and Anne St.
Looking down Anne St towards Thomas St in the background.
O'Mara's bacon factory is gone. Site is the car park building on RHS.
Photo 2009.
See full size.
See similar shot.
See other shot.
Street view of site of O'Mara's bacon factory (car park building).
Click to rotate.
From
Google Street View.
Site of O'Mara's bacon factory (car park building).
Photo from Roches St.
Photo 2009.
See full size.
Site of O'Mara's bacon factory (car park building on LHS).
Junction of Roches St and Roche's Row.
Photo 2009.
See full size.
See wider shot.
"The English beef, the Welshman sheep,
The Scotchman haggis gnaws;
The Esquimo holds walrus fat
Between his greasy paws;
The Frenchman nibbles froggies' legs;
New Yorker's gobble clams,
But Irishmen who know what's what
Stick to O'Mara's Hams."
- Verse in booklet of O'Mara's centenary dinner, Savoy restaurant, Limerick, 11 Feb 1939.
The dinner included port from 1889
and cognac from 1839.
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