Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Stephen O'Mara,
When first married (after 1918) they lived in a house in Limerick they named
after Toomevara,
the O'Mara family's supposed ancestral home.
The only place we have the spelling of their house is
P40/238,
which has them using the Irish spelling,
"Tuaim uí Meára",
for the house.
The correct spelling of the village would
be
"Tuaim uí Mheára",
but P40/238 has "Tuaim uí Meára".
Stephen was appointed member of Sinn Fein Standing Committee
(or "Ard Chomhairle") for
Dec 1918 general election.
P40/238
has a furniture listing for their house "Tuaim uí Meára"
dated 1920.
It seems clear they left the house in 1920 or 1921.
They moved (probably 1920) into his father's house, Strand House.
Mayor of Limerick, 22 Mar 1921 - Jan 1922 (elected for rest of his
predecessor's year).
See the
Town Hall, Limerick.
He took over as Mayor of Limerick after
his two predecessors were murdered by the Black and Tans
on 7 Mar 1921.
(Before them, the Mayor was his brother Phons.)
Stephen condemned the Black and Tans,
and they targeted him.
"[Stephen] O'Mara too was a brave man, as a number of attempts
had already been made on his life."
[Hannan, 1997]
A special steel door was fitted upstairs in
Strand House.
Everyone slept behind it.
He had "a bodyguard of picked men" [obituary].
It seems clear he was living at Strand House by 1921.
He was arrested by the British in Apr 1921 and imprisoned for one week in Limerick gaol.
See Apr 1921 interview of his father.
Trustee of Dail Eireann Funds:
His brother
Jim resigned as Trustee of Dail funds, May 1921.
Stephen the younger (NOT his father) was
appointed in 1921 to replace him
as Trustee and also as fund-raiser in the US.
He raised funds in the US in 1921,
as his brother had before him.
He
was the underground government's
Special Envoy to the US.
He opposed the Treaty that was signed in Dec 1921 (taking a stand against his own brother, Jim).
He was the only O'Mara who went anti-Treaty.
He and de Valera were now both Trustees of the money raised by Jim
for the Irish Republic,
and both anti-Treaty Republicans.
They argued that the money should go to the Republican side.
The other trustee, Bishop Fogarty,
supported the
new Free State government.
[Lavelle, 1961]
describes the dispute, which carried on into the Civil War and beyond.
Mayor of Limerick, Jan 1922 - Jan 1923 (second term).
Re-elected Mayor Jan 1922,
when he was led in triumph from his house
to the
Town Hall
by the IRA.
The Limerick Crisis, Feb-March 1922:
In Feb 1922, when British forces were leaving Limerick,
pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty forces faced off over who would control the barracks
being evacuated.
The situation was very tense.
The Mayor Stephen O'Mara negotiated a compromise on 11 Mar 1922
that avoided conflict breaking out for now.
See
[Corbett, 2008].
But Civil War broke out nationally in June 1922.
The Free State secured Limerick on 18 July 1922.
O'Mara was arrested at Roscrea on 9 Dec 1922.
He was
imprisoned by Free State.
The
family were very worried that he would be
executed.
Mayor of Limerick, Jan 1923 - 1 Oct 1923 (partial third term).
He was in prison at the start of this.
He was released March 1923.
Resigned as Mayor 1 Oct 1923 (or 4 Oct).
His
biography
in [Thom's Irish Who's Who, 1923]
describes him as an "Alderman",
and as "Managing Director" of "O'Mara, Ltd., Bacon Curers".
In 1923 he is
living at Strand House.
Strong supporter of
Fianna Fail
(founded 1926).
They lived
Strand House.
Stephen founded bacon factory in Claremorris, Co.Mayo, 1930.
Founded bacon factory in Letterkenny, Co.Donegal.
Member of the Government
Commission on Vocational Organisation
1930s-40s.
Chairman of
O'Mara's bacon company
at time of
O'Mara's centenary, 1939.
He was
NOT a Senator (that was his father).
Stephen demolished
Strand House
c.1943.
He said it was impossible to heat.
His sister Mary
was furious with him for demolishing it.
He built a
second "Strand House"
at the site in 1943
and lived there until his death.
(This house is also now gone.)
Aodogán O'Rahilly
remembered him sitting on the University Committee c.1957/58.
1958 article
describes him as Chairman of O'Mara Bacon Factory.
Obituary
describes him as Chairman of O'Mara Ltd
and of the Claremorris and Donegal Bacon Companies.
Appointed to
Council of State
by President
Eamon de Valera
Oct 1959.
Stephen dies, 1959:
In 1959, the family
moved out of the second Strand House.
They moved to the next door house,
Ivy Bank, Ennis Rd, Limerick.
Stephen organised the move, but died before moving in.
He
died Mater Hospital, Dublin,
Wed 11th Nov 1959, age 75 yrs.
See obituary
in
Limerick Leader, 11 Nov 1959.
Funeral Fri 13 Nov 1959, Gardiner St Church, Dublin
(his brother's church),
bur Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
See poem
by Frank Gallagher, 1961,
dedicated to Stephen.
From J/552/71.
The O'Maras re-named Ivy Bank to "New Strand House".
Nancy died 11 Feb 1975, age 79 yrs.
She was
bur Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
See draft of letter of condolence written by
Michael Rynne
to Peter,
p.1 and
p.2.
From P133/2/18.
Stephen and Nancy
had adopted issue:
Stephen O'Mara.
Photo of the Directors of O'Mara's
at
O'Mara centenary dinner, 1939.
See larger
and full size.
See another copy.
From
P40/185.
Stephen O'Mara and Nancy O'Brien.
See larger
and full size.
From [P40/910].
Used with permission of
[UL Archives].
Peter O'Mara and Nancy
at front of Strand House, 1927.
See larger
and full size.
See other picture.
From [P40/911].
Used with permission of
[UL Archives].
See other picture
(and back).
From
P133/2/20.
Stephen and Nancy and Peter (born 1925)
and unnamed girl.
Strand House.
See full size
and back.
From
P133/2/20.
Nancy O'Brien and
Mary Rynne.
At
front of Strand House.
See larger
and full size.
From [P40/912].
Used with permission of
[UL Archives].
Eamon de Valera
with the O'Maras in July 1932.
(De Valera had won the
Feb 1932 election
and was now President.)
Standing: Unknown. Unknown. Unknown.
Seated left to right: Peter O'Mara, Eamon de Valera, think Nancy, Stephen O'Mara.
Location is back door of Strand House.
See full size.
See copy and other shot.
From [P40/912].
Used with permission of
[UL Archives].
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