Humphrys genealogy

Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.


My ancestors - O'Mara - Contents


O'Mara of Limerick city

Formerly of near Clonmel, Co.Tipperary.



O'Meara of Toomevara, Co.Tipperary

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

The old Irish O'Meara family (O'Meadhra in Irish) had lands in the Barony of Upper Ormond, N Co.Tipperary.
The chief town of the Barony was Toomevara (or Toomyvara).
In Irish the town is Tuaim uí Mheára (or Tuaim ui Mheadhra), "Tomb of the O'Mearas".
Toomevara is in Aghnameadle par, E of Nenagh (on the Dublin road), N Co.Tipperary (see map).

See more on O'Meara of Toomevara, Co.Tipperary.

The Limerick family believed they were from Toomevara:

However, in 2020 (see below) I discovered that before they came to Limerick, our O'Mara family was from near Clonmel, Co.Tipperary. This is nowhere near Toomevara.
Any Toomevara origin, if it exists, would have to be further back.
Perhaps, when they moved to Limerick, they were taken with the fact that Toomevara was on the road to Dublin. And they were taken by the name, and the O'Meara monuments there, and they considered it as their ultimate ancestral home.




15th century O'Meara tombstone at Toomevara village.
Toomevara ("Tomb of the O'Mearas") was the town of the medieval O'Meara family, and has ancient O'Meara monuments.
O'Mara family members would have passed by countless times, on the Dublin-Limerick road.
This may be the origin of the story that O'Mara of Limerick came from Toomevara.



Letterhead of letter of 17 Aug 1897, from Hartstonge House.
Shows that our family used the O'Meara crest.
See also letter of 13 Sept 1899.



Letterhead of 1905 letter in our family, showing use of O'Meara crest.
See full size.



O'Meara arms in 1910 article.
See larger and full size.



Extract from O'MEARA on p.238 of [O'Hart, 1915, vol.1].
The crest (seen on the letterhead above) is a pelican vulning herself.
Motto: "Opima spolia".
O'Meara of "Lismisky" is the main landed family of O'Meara of Lissanisky, near Toomevara.


  

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

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

  


Proof of this generation

For many years the father of our James O'Mara was unknown.
James was meant to be born in Toomevara, according to the standard family origin story told by Pat Lavelle.
O'Mara family tree, post-1961, guessed that his father was "John". But it was only a guess. Other trees left it blank.

In 2020, I worked it out in two ways, first by looking at James' brother Andrew:

Then I confirmed this by looking at James' brother John: Conclusion: Our James O'Mara is from Clonmel and his father is Peter O'Mara.
  

The top of O'Mara family tree, post-1946, gives the mother as Margaret Casey of "Cloheen Mills".
See full size.



Another copy of this tree, with notes added maybe late 1950s by Lillian White.
See full size.



The top of O'Mara family tree, post-1961, gives the mother as Peggy Casey.
"Peggy" is of course Margaret.
See full size.



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 be related.


James Mara, woollen draper, Main St, Clonmel, is listed in [Pigot's Directory, 1824, p.239].
Our family was in the woollen business, so this James may be related to our family.


 
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].


  
"Peter" is a somewhat rare first name.
So the following may be related:






References




Sources yet to be fully consulted






Unidentified O'Mara photos




O'Meara of Toomevara, Co.Tipperary




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





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