Humphrys genealogy

Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.


My ancestors - O'Mara - Contents


Hartstonge House, Limerick

Hartstonge House, Hartstonge St, Limerick.
Home of Stephen O'Mara from 1886 to c.1909.



Hartstonge House, Hartstonge St, Limerick.
Click to rotate.
From Google street view.




Hartstonge House, Hartstonge St, Limerick. Near The Crescent.
Hartstonge St is named after Sir Henry Hartstonge, 3rd Baronet (died 1797).
Hartstonge House was built c.1840.
It is a tall narrow town house, no garden, standing alone on Hartstonge St.
Towards the park (Pery Square) end of the street, on RHS.


Harris family:
Hartstonge House was the home temp 1860s-1880s of the wealthy Harris family, of Harris' bakery, Henry St, Limerick.
Ellen Pigott worked in Harris' bakery in 1860s, before she married in 1867.
Later she would come to live in Hartstonge House herself.
Richard Harris is listed at Hartstonge House in [Bassett's, 1880-81, p.33].
Later from the Harris family came the actor Richard Harris (born 1930).


O'Mara family:
Stephen O'Mara bought Hartstonge House from the Harris family and settled here in 1886.
Letter of 21 May 1886 shows O'Mara are now in Hartstonge House.
Stephen O'Mara is listed at Hartstonge House in [Ashe's Directory, 1891-92].
Stephen's wife writes on 18 Nov 1893 from Hartstonge House.
Stephen O'Mara is listed in 1901 census at Hartstonge House. The house has 13 rooms, 10 windows in front of house, with 2 coal cellars as out-buildings.
See Christmas card from Hartstonge House, 1904. From P133/2/19.
Pat Lavelle in [PAT/1, p.4] describes from her youth: "what I saw, the comfort and well-being of Hartstonge House, the crowds of relations, the stables with carriages and horses, had all been achieved by the work and energy of two men, my Grandfather and his father James".
Stephen O'Mara is living there in 1908.
He left c.1909.
Stephen is living Strand House as at letter of 25 Jan 1910.
The disposal of Hartstonge House is discussed in letter of 29 Jan 1910.
No O'Mara is listed on Hartstonge St in 1911 census.
No O'Mara is listed on the street in [Guy's directory, 1912, p.72].
Hartstonge House became the office of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Limerick City Division 550. They are listed there in [Guy's directory, 1914].


Did Joseph O'Mara live there?
A plaque to Stephen's brother, Joseph O'Mara, the opera singer, was erected on Hartstonge House in 1967.
The plaque says Joseph lived there. But it is unclear when. This may be wrong. His brother lived there.
Maybe he just stayed with Stephen when he was in Ireland. (He was mostly based in London, and travelled constantly.)


Modern history:
The house survives today.
Now occupied by the Mid West Region HQ of the Irish branch of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
They re-named it Ozanam House after their founder Frederic Ozanam.
The name "Hartstonge House" is now used by another building on the street, think across the street.





Extract from map of Limerick, by Coffey, 1823.
N is at an angle.
Hartstonge House does not yet exist.
Its future site is at the "EET" of "HARTSTONGE STREET".
See full size.



Ordnance Survey of Ireland map. Date created: 1870. From here.
Hartstonge House is to the right of the school, opposite Catherine Place.



Hartstonge House (to the right of the school, opposite Catherine Place) on 1887 to 1913 map.



Richard Harris is listed at Hartstonge House in [Bassett's, 1880-81, p.33].



Stephen O'Mara is listed at Hartstonge House in [Ashe's Directory, 1891-92].



Letterhead of letter of 17 Aug 1897, from Hartstonge House.



Hartstonge House, Limerick, 1908.
See full size.



Hartstonge St in [Guy's directory, 1912, p.72].
William B. Joyce may be at Hartstonge House.
No O'Mara listed.



Extract from [Guy's directory, 1914, p.17].
Hartstonge House is occupied by the Ancient Order of Hibernians.



Hartstonge St in [Guy's directory, 1914, p.116].
Hartstonge House is occupied by the Ancient Order of Hibernians.



1947 aerial view showing Hartstonge House.
See larger.
From Britain from Above. Non-commercial use.
Also just about visible in another 1947 photo.



Detail of above showing Hartstonge House.





Hartstonge House, Limerick (front)



  

Hartstonge House, Limerick (side and rear and interior)



  
  

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