My ancestors - O'Mara - Contents

O'Mara of Limerick city

Formerly of near Clonmel, Co.Tipperary.

O'Meara of Toomyvara, Co.Tipperary

There is a tradition in our family (O'Mara of Limerick city) that they were originally O'Meara of Toomyvara, Co.Tipperary.

The old Irish O'Meara family (O'Meadhra in Irish) had lands in the Barony of Upper Ormond, N Co.Tipperary.
The village of Toomyvara, or Toomevara, is named after them. In Irish it is Tuaim ui Mheadhra (or Tuaim ui Mheara), "Tomb of the O'Mearas".
Toomyvara is in Aghnameadle par, E of Nenagh (on the Dublin road), N Co.Tipperary (see map).
See notes on O'Meara of Toomyvara, Co.Tipperary.

There is a tradition that our family was originally from Toomyvara.
Stephen O'Mara called his house "Toomyvara" around 1920.
Dr. Frank O'Mara called his house "Toomyvara" around 1940.

However, before they came to Limerick, we have discovered that our family was of near Clonmel, Co.Tipperary. This is nowhere near Toomyvara.
Any Toomyvara origin, if it exists, would have to be further back.
Perhaps, when they moved to Limerick, they were taken with the fact that Toomyvara was on the road to Dublin. And they were taken by the name and considered it as their ultimate ancestral home.

Extract from O'MEARA on p.239 of [O'Hart, 1915, vol.1].

Letterhead of 1899 letter in our family, from Hartstonge House.
Shows that our family used the O'Meara crest.
See larger and full size.

Extract from O'MEARA on p.238 of [O'Hart, 1915, vol.1].
This explains that the O'Meara crest on the letterhead above is a pelican vulning herself.
Motto: "Opima spolia".

O'Mara of Clonmel, Co.Tipperary (our family)

We do not know if our family was in Toomyvara in the 18th century, or if it is a family myth.
The known family starts with:

Peter O'Mara,
or Peter Meara.
Married before 1817.
Farmer on W side of Clonmel town, S Co.Tipperary.
Children bapt in Clonmel town.

Proof of this generation

For many years the father of our James O'Mara was unknown. James was meant to be born in Toomyvara.
In 2020, I worked it out in two ways, first by looking at James' brother Andrew:

Andrew O'Mara's grave said he was born in Clonmel (not Toomyvara) in Jan 1817.
O'Mara family tree says the mother of Andrew and James was Margaret Casey.
Baptism of Andrew found in Clonmel, 8 Jan 1817, son of Peter O'Mara and Margaret Casey.

Then I confirmed this by looking at James' brother John:

John O'Mara of Liverpool was identified using family letters and DNA.
His marriage cert says his father is Peter O'Mara.

The top of O'Mara family tree, post-1949.

The grave of Andrew O'Mara in Canada says he was born in Clonmel in Jan 1817.
See full size.

Baptism of twins John and Andrew O'Mara, 8 Jan 1817, Clonmel, sons of Peter O'Mara and Margaret Casey.
From here.

Marriage cert of John in Liverpool in 1842 shows his father as Peter O'Mara, "farmer".

Marriage of John in parish records in Liverpool in 1842.
Shows his father as Peter O'Mara.
See full size.

Mara of Clonmel

The following may or may not be related.

James Mara, woollen draper, Main St, Clonmel, is listed in [Pigot's Directory, 1824, p.239].

James Mara, woollen draper, and Margaret Mara, milliner, 40 Main St, Clonmel, listed in [Slater's directory, 1846].

William Mara, blacksmith, Irishtown, Clonmel, is listed in [Slater's directory, 1846].

References

Rynne papers
Fr. Paddy O'Mara papers
James O'Mara papers
Patricia Lavelle papers
O'Mara family tree, typed by unknown author, post-1949 (it includes death of Dr. Frank).
- Possibly made by Fr. Paddy O'Mara.
- See copy with notes added maybe late 1950s by Lillian White.

Unidentified O'Mara photos

Miscellaneous O'Mara's and O'Meara's

O'Meara and O'Mara
Castletroy Park Hotel, Dublin Rd, Limerick, has conference rooms called:
- The Barrington Suite.
- The O'Brien Suite.
- The O'Mara Suite.