My ancestors - O'Mara - Contents

Billie de Courcy

Kat, 1910. From this picture.

Billie de Courcy,
William, born 28 July 1892.
See entry in tree by Paddy Waldron.
In [Census, 1911] he is listed as visiting (apparently working for) his uncle Henry Glynn in Kilrush, Co.Clare. He is "assistant, milling business".
He is listed as merchant, living South Circular Rd, Limerick, at mar.

He mar 10 Jan 1917 to Kat O'Mara [Kathleen, born 9 Sept 1889].
At dau's birth 1918 they are living Corona House, South Circular Road, Limerick. He is "business manager".
This must be the Ebrill property, Corona House, Victoria Terrace, South Circular Road.

Separation:
Billie and Kat separated, post-1922, think pre-1929.
Their dau Muffie said it was an unhappy marriage. She had the money. He didn't do any work after marriage. He was good-looking, very popular, especially in the pubs. Muffie said he was an only child, spoilt, never grew up. She said: "My parents were ill-assorted ... two very spoilt people".
Muffie said the O'Mara's had so much money that she saw everyone "robbing them left, right and centre".
Kat always called herself "Kat O'Mara", never referred to herself as de Courcy.
They separated. He went to live with his mother and aunts. Muffie said: "Women propped him up all his life ... My father was a softie behind it all".

A statement dated 3 July 1926 in the Glynn family bible says: "I, William G. de Courcy, solemnly swear that during the next ten years that I will not take any intoxicating liquors of any kind whatsoever".
(todo) See item in Cork Examiner, 11 October 1927. Mentions Mrs. Kathleen de Courcy at Coolraine House.
Item in Limerick Leader, July 20, 1929, lists "Mrs. de Courcy" at Coolraine House (apparently separated by this time).
Also item in Limerick Leader, September 7, 1929.
A statement dated 16 Sept 1929 in the Glynn family bible says: "I, William G. de Courcy do solemnly swear that during next 3 years I will not take intoxicating liquor of any kind whatsoever".

See letter from Kat's wealthy brother James O'Mara on 17 Feb 1941. He is writing to their brother Stephen, and says: "I would like to keep Kathleen afloat until some of the children commence to earn".
At Harry's marriage 1942 his father is (commercial) "traveller". Newspaper lists his parents at Stradbally, Castleconnell, Co.Limerick (see map) but that would only be one parent there.
Billie is listed as "merchant" at dau's mar 1943.
At his mother's death in July 1950, he is listed as living with her at 38 Elgin Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin.
At Joe's death in Dec 1950, Kat is described as of Kilkee, Co.Clare.

Billie dies, 1954:
He lived 2 Billow View, Kilkee, Co.Clare.
Listed at Kilkee at death. He is listed on death cert as "no occupation".
He died at the District Hospital, Kilrush, Co.Clare, 10 Aug 1954, age 62 yrs.
See death cert from here. Incorrectly indexed as p.153. It should be p.163.

At Phons' death 1958, Kat is described as of Kilkee.
Kat died in a home in Limerick, 8 Feb 1974, age 84 yrs [family bible], apparently NOT 1972.
Billie and Kat had issue:

1. Harry de Courcy,
   William Henry Glynn de Courcy, born 16 Nov 1917, Limerick.
   "William" after father and grandfather.
   He is in photo of the employees of O'Mara's Limerick factory in 1939.
   O'Maras founded a bacon factory in Letterkenny, Co.Donegal. Harry went there to manage it.
   Listed at mar 1942 as "factory manager", living Market Square, Letterkenny.

   He mar 3 June 1942, RC church, Sandymount, Co.Dublin, to Joan Behan [Joan Marie Behan].
   She was born 11 Sept 1920, 5 Ashfield Ave, Rathmines, Co.Dublin. See her birth cert from here.
   She was dau of William V. Behan, listed as "commercial traveller" and "merchant", listed in 1942 as of Herbert House, Ballsbridge, Co.Dublin.
   See marriage announcement in Irish Independent, May 16, 1942.
   See mar cert from here. They were married by his uncle Fr. Paddy O'Mara.
   See report in Irish Independent, June 4, 1942.
   Harry worked for Marcus O'Sullivan at farm in Rockville, Co.Roscommon, in the 1940s, towards end of the war and just after the war.
   They had adopted issue.
   They separated.

   
   

2. Muffie de Courcy,
   Mary, Molly, Muff, Muffie, NOT Muffy,
   called Muffie all her life,
   born 11 Dec 1918 [birth cert] or 12 Dec 1918 [family], Corona House, South Circular Road, Limerick.
   See birth cert from here. Birth not registered until 30 Sept 1919. Birth cert was then cancelled in 1951 for unknown reason.
   (todo) See corrected birth cert, Mary de Courcy, [GROI], June quarter 1951, entry 126.
   At age 15, 1934, she was sent to Dublin. Muffie remembered it as "Mother getting rid of me".
   At age 16, 1935, she got job in National Bank, 34 College Green, Dublin. Worked there all her life.
   She wit her sister's mar 1943.
   She had a number of relationships, but didn't marry.
   She retired from bank c.1977.
   Lived for long time at 18 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin.
   I talked to her about family tree there around 1992. She was a great character, full of stories about the family.
   Lived in nursing home in later years.
   She died Aclare Nursing Home, Tivoli Terrace South, Dun Laoghaire, Mon 22 Aug 2005, age 86 yrs.
   See death notice in Irish Times, 24 August 2005.
   Funeral Thur 25 Aug 2005, bur Bohernabreena Cemetery, Tallaght, Co.Dublin.

   
   

3. Alice de Courcy,
   Alice Mary de Courcy, would be after grandmother,
   born 2 Feb 1921, Limerick.
   At mar 1943 she is living Roxboro Road, Limerick.
   She mar 17 November 1943 to Robert O'Dea and had issue.

   
   

4. Stephen de Courcy,
   born 1922, Limerick,
   (todo) see birth of "Stephen M DeCourcey", [GROI], Limerick, 1st qr 1922, vol 5 p 291,
   would be after grandfather.
   He was in the Irish Army in "The Emergency" (WW2 in Ireland).
   He was attached to the Cavalry Corps at The Curragh.
   He wit his brother's mar 1942. He is described as Lieutenant.
   He emigrated to US/Canada.
   

   He mar in US/Canada to --- [Russian].
   She was either atheist or Russian Orthodox. Stephen kept it a secret from his family, fearing the wrath of his uncle Fr.Paddy O'Mara.
   Moved to Canada 1951.

   Stephen dies, 1955: He was killed in a car crash, 1955, age 33 yrs.
   He and his wife were driving long distance at night, coming from Minnesota (on Canadian border, she had relations there). She was driving, Stephen asleep in back. There was a lorry driver close behind, nodding off at wheel. She braked suddenly, lorry crashed into back of them. He was killed, she survived unscathed.
   See death notice in Sunday Independent, August 7, 1955.
   See death notice in Limerick Leader, August 8, 1955.
   See death notice in Irish Press, August 8, 1955.
   See report in Irish Independent, August 10, 1955. This says he died in Toronto (nowhere near Minnesota).
   His widow remarried.

Kat O'Mara, Billie de Courcy, engagement photo, c.1915.

Harry de Courcy (back).
From photo of the employees of O'Mara's Limerick factory in 1939.
See larger and full size.
See another copy. From P40/185.

---

Coolraine House, Ennis Rd, Limerick

• Coolraine House stood on about 60 acres, with its own gate lodge.
• Billie de Courcy and Kat O'Mara were given Coolraine House by Kat's father. It seems they got it in 1919.
• They separated post-1922, think pre-1929.
• They sold Coolraine House in 1931.

• See item in Irish Press, January 26, 1935, which shows "Charles S. Barry, victualler" then at Coolraine House.
• See sale of Coolraine House in 1946 on the instructions of Charles S. Barry. See Irish Independent, March 16, 1946.
• The house existed in 1975.
• The house is now gone. The site is vanished under Ashbrook Grove housing estate (see map).
• There is a modern building called "Coolraine House" on the main road (where the Lodge used to be).

Coolraine House for sale.
Irish Press, 23 March 1946.
See part 2.

Coolraine House, Ennis Rd, Limerick, on 1887 to 1913 map.

Kat and the 4 children at Coolraine House, 1927.
See larger and full size.
From [P40/911]. Used with permission of [UL Archives].