Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Dr. Frank O'Mara, bapt 18th Sept 1862, Limerick.
He was
MD,
LAH (Licentiate of Apothecaries Hall),
LRCPI,
LRCSI.
He registered his brother-in-law
Tom Ray's death 1892.
He was then living 12 Cecil St, Limerick.
He worked as assistant in Limerick mental hospital.
Listed as Assistant Medical Officer, Limerick County Lunatic Asylum,
Limerick, in
[Thoms, 1893].
Very lively youth, was remembered for years afterwards.
Finally settled down and married.
Listed as living Limerick at mar.
He
mar [think 14] Nov 1894
to Mary Plunkett [Cis, born Co.Dublin, 1867,
dau of James Plunkett, merchant].
Her family was meant to be of Co.Meath, though she was born Co.Dublin. She is listed as living 3 Le Bas Terrace, Rathmines, Co.Dublin, at mar. Her brother was Alderman Ambrose Plunkett, solicitor in Dublin. He sp bapt of Dorothy 1898. Think he left Mary a lot of money. Frank and Mary mar at Church of Our Lady of Refuge, Rathmines, Co.Dublin [GROI]. |
"F. O'Mara M.D." is on organising committee of
Grand Ball to celebrate 700 years of Limerick,
28 Dec 1897.
Frank was
living Limerick District Asylum when Dorothy born 1898.
He is listed as
Assistant Medical Officer, Limerick District Asylum.
Older children born Limerick.
Moved to Ennis, Co.Clare, 1898-99.
Younger children born Co.Clare.
Head of Ennis Asylum, at least 1899 to 1935:
He was head of the District Lunatic Asylum, Ennis, Co.Clare (founded 1868, later Our Lady's Hospital, Ennis, closed 2002, see history). He was RMS (Regional Medical Superintendent), head doctor, and also ran the place. They actually lived in the Asylum. Living quarters were in middle of the building. Apartment just inside hall door on LHS. They also had a large domestic staff - composed of the more competent inmates. Asylum had its own garden/farm. Lot of food grown there. Dr. Harry Counihan (junior) says he hadn't large salary, but they "lived like Dukes". Frank registered his father's death 1899. He is listed as living at Ennis Asylum [GROI]. Though probate of his father's will granted to "Frank O'Mara of Mulgrave St, Limerick, MD" 1899 [NAI]. He was living at Ennis Asylum when twins born there 1900, he is "Resident Medical Superintendant". They are listed at Ennis Asylum in [Census, 31 Mar 1901]. He is "Resident Medical Superintendant-Physician-Surgeon". Her widowed mother living (or at least staying) with them. Thomas Ray also with them. They have 3 domestic servants. He was at funeral of Dr. David Humphreys in 1903. [PAT/1, p.11 and p.12] says that once in their living quarters at the Asylum: "The nurse in charge of the children was feeding the baby its bottle when she observed with horror a maniacal lunatic under the bed with a knife in her hand. The silly girl flung the baby on the bed and ran out shrieking to find Aunt Cis, and it was she who walked back to the bedroom and picked up her baby as if nothing had disturbed her and quietly turned the key in the door as she went out". Letter of July 1908 from Patricia O'Mara on holiday in Kilkee, Co.Clare, says: "The Ennis cousins came down today. The twins came a couple of days ago." They were living at Ennis Asylum when dau married in 1915. He is "Resident Medical Superintendant".
Their family was very Establishment.
They were
Catholic, would have voted Home Rule,
but had no time for militant Nationalists.
Their daus married members of British Army in Ireland.
|
When retired, he built house in Ennis,
called it "Toomyvara".
Despite their political differences
he was good friends with his nephew James O'Mara.
In old age he used go fishing in Connemara
during summer with James.
He died 1949, age 87 yrs.
Though
[PAT/1, p.12]
says he died before James (before 1948).
Frank and Mary
had issue:
"F. O'Mara"
(back).
From
photo of
the employees of
O'Mara's Limerick factory
in 1939.
See larger
and full size.
Wonder if this is Frank O'Mara (junior) above.
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