Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
James O'Mara,
Family origin story is false: In 2020 I discovered that most of the above story is false:
So from what we can see, James grew up near Clonmel.
It seems he worked for a time
in the woollen mills near Clonmel.
His mother's family Casey are said to have owned a woollen mill at
Clogheen, near Clonmel.
Comes to Limerick:
James' brother Andrew moved to Limerick and married there in 1837.
James came to Limerick before 1839.
Probably lived with Andrew for a time.
In Limerick he worked in the wool trade, before he got into bacon.
[PAT/1, p.10]
says that years later the
O'Mara's still did a thriving business in wool with the
Ebrills
during the slack bacon period.
Settles in Mungret St:
James
settled in Mungret St, Limerick.
His brother Andrew
lived on Mungret St.
James may have lived with brother for a time before he married,
but later they clearly have two different houses on Mungret St.
James
got a job in a bacon company in Limerick
as a clerk.
1924 letter (which is an eyewitness source)
says this was John Russell's company.
James O'Mara worked in the bacon department.
See John Russell of Upper William St listed
under "Provision Merchants" in
[Slater's Directory, 1846, p.276].
I had another story that he worked for
Mattersons bacon factory,
Limerick.
I had this story before 1992 but cannot find source.
See Joseph Matterson of Roches St listed
under "Provision Merchants" in
[Slater's Directory, 1846, p.276].
But the source for Russell's is much more convincing.
The story is he
went home from his employer one day
and said: "This is the last day I'm going to work for anyone".
He set up business on his own.
He
opened O'Mara's Bacon Company in 1839.
He originally sold for his old employer, then started curing his own.
James and Honora
were
living Mungret St around 1844-1860 (their children baptised in nearby St.John's).
[PAT/1, p.4]
says:
"It was in the basement of this house in Mungret Street that bacon was first cured by them."
His wife worked in the business with him.
Slowly, over the years, he worked his way up to become one of the
prominent businessmen of the city.
Honora worked with her husband in setting up O'Maras through the terrible years of
The Famine (1845-50).
Think he is spelt "O'Mara" in all children's baptisms after 1844.
He sp bapt of his nephew Michael O'Mara Sept 1846.
"James O'Mara" is listed on
Mungret St in Griffith's Valuation, 1850.
He is leasing a very modest house, at plot 28. He is clearly not rich yet.
They are right beside Honora's sister
Mary Foley and her husband Andrew Lynch
at plot 30.
Also on Mungret St in Griffith's Valuation is
James' brother Andrew
and
other people of interest.
"James O'Mara", Mungret St,
is listed
under "provision dealers" in
[Slater's, 1856, p.310].
"James O'Mara" wit mar of his niece
Margaret O'Mara 1858.
Move to Roches St:
James and Honora moved by 1862 to
Roches St, Limerick.
Living there
as at children's births 1862-1866.
Children now baptised at St.Michael's
on Denmark St.
James set up a dedicated
O'Mara's Bacon Factory
on Roches St, Limerick.
He is
listed as "James O'Mara", "provision merchant" at
children's births and marriages.
"James O'Meara" sp bapt of Mary O'Mara 1868.
Nationalist politics:
Obituary says he was "an ardent Nationalist".
He was an
early supporter of
Isaac Butt's
Home Rule movement.
He was a
member (with his son Stephen)
of the famous Butt Committee,
which secured Butt's election for Limerick city, in by-election, 20 Sept 1871.
"James O'Mara" is listed
in contributors to
"The Butt Testimonial" in
Irish Times,
May 5, 1875.
"James O'Mara", of St.Michael's par, Limerick,
is among those writing an open letter, 4 May 1877, to the
Bishop of Limerick,
expressing their wish to organise celebrations of the
Golden Jubilee
of
Pope Pius IX
(50th anniv of him becoming a
bishop).
See
letter
in
Freemans Journal,
9 May 1877.
Honora dies, 1878:
Honora spent a lot of time in Co.Clare resorts.
Undated letters
from Stephen to his wife show he is often in
Lisdoonvarna
with his mother and his aunt.
Honora died Aug 1878, Kilkee,
Co.Clare.
Grave
says she died
30 Aug 1878, age 56 yrs.
See inscription.
See death cert
from here.
This says she died
31 Aug 1878,
age 60 yrs.
Lists her as "Honor O'Mara".
She was
bur 31 Aug or 1 Sept [burial record]
at Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
James erected grave, spelt name "O'Mara".
In 1878 James moved house to
17 Thomas St
(just N of Roches St),
one of the old town houses.
The factory stayed on Roches St.
His wife's address is still listed as Roches St in burial record 1878.
He is listed at Thomas St from 1878.
He is listed as "James O'Meara, merchant"
at Jack's mar 1880.
He was a member of the
Catholic Institute, Limerick.
He appears in their records in at least May 1886 to 1893.
He was on their council at least May 1886 to 1893.
He became a Limerick
Poor Law Guardian.
Listed as such
at time of appointment as High Sheriff, Dec 1886.
He became a Town Councillor (T.C.) on Limerick Corporation.
He is "James O'Mara"
listed as Town Councillor
for Dock Ward
in
[Thoms]
at least 1888 to 1898.
[PAT/1, p.7]
says he was
known as "The Grand Old Man" in later life.
This refers to a letter of 31 Dec 1889:
"Give my best love to dear Mr. James O'Mara - our own Grand Old Man
- to see him jumping into the Pollock Holes last summer
like a young boy.
I never saw anything like his vitality."
(The Pollock Holes
are deep pools off Kilkee.)
There was a Christmas dinner custom in the O'Maras
that none of the many children or their husbands and wives or the grandchildren
were allowed to speak a word during dinner, no matter how old they were.
Great opportunity for the parents to expound their views.
In 1891 he bought the rights of the
Russian Bacon Company,
and until 1903 they produced bacon there and shipped it to London.
He is "James O'Mara",
T.C. (Town Councillor),
in
Limerick Chronicle,
14 January 1892,
and at
Thomas Ray's funeral 1892.
Listed as "TC" at a talk in Limerick in Oct 1892.
He is
described as a Justice of the Peace at his son Jim's
death and funeral 1893.
Limerick Corporation passed a Vote of Condolence, saying that the father
was "long connected and much associated with the Corporation".
He is
listed as J.P. at son Jack's mar 1895,
also in
[Thoms, 1898],
also at death 1899.
[Modern Ireland, 1899]
says he was also a member of the Limerick Harbour Commissioners,
a Governor of the Fever Hospital,
and a Trustee of the Limerick Savings Bank.
Obituary says he was a magistrate of Limerick,
and a "Visiting Justice of the Male and Female Prisons".
He is
still listed as Town Councillor for Dock Ward in
[Thoms, 1898].
Looks like he was NOT
an Alderman.
Obituary 1899 says he represented the Dock Ward until he resigned at
"the termination of the old council".
Obituary says he was nominated for
Mayor of Limerick
but declined.
He lived to see great-grandchildren.
James dies, 1899:
James was living 17 Thomas St, Limerick, at death.
He
died Thur 20 Apr 1899,
17 Thomas St, Limerick, age 82 yrs
[obituary],
[grave],
[death cert].
See death cert
from here.
He is "bacon manufacturer".
See obituary
in Limerick Chronicle, 20 April 1899.
Funeral Sun 23 Apr 1899 [funeral report].
NOT 21 Apr [burial record].
He was
bur Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
Letter of 25 Apr 1899
confirms he died Thur and was bur Sun.
See funeral report
in Limerick Chronicle, 25 April 1899.
Attendance included
Bishop of Limerick
and "Lord Emly"
(would be Gaston Monsell, 2nd Baron Emly).
Probate of will granted 2 Nov 1899
to his sons Stephen
and Frank.
See entry
from here.
Estate £5,036.
This is about £2m in
today's money.
James and Honora had issue:
The marriage of James O'Mara to Honora "Fowloo" (Foley)
in 1841 in the register of St.John's, Limerick.
See full size.
Extract from
1924 letter
from David Murphy (born 1831).
Murphy says he and old James O'Mara worked for John Russell's company in Limerick city.
O'Mara in the bacon department and Murphy in the leather department.
O'Mara's bacon company was said to be founded 1839. Murphy would be only a boy.
Note Murphy does think he and O'Mara were in Russell's before 1844 (when Stephen was born) and agrees he was a boy.
See full size.
James O'Mara.
See full size.
James O'Mara.
O'Mara family,
Kilkee, 1895.
2nd row from front has line of
old
James O'Mara,
Ellen Pigott,
Stephen O'Mara.
See
larger
and
full size.
4 generations photo, 1898.
James O'Mara,
his son Stephen,
his son James,
his son Stephen
(born Sept 1896).
See larger
and full size.
See close-up of old James.
See old James
in
O'Mara centenary booklet, 1939.
See crop of old James.
From [P40/916].
Used with permission of
[UL Archives].
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