My ancestors - O'Mara - Contents

Hartstonge House, Limerick

Hartstonge House, Hartstonge St (nr The Crescent), Limerick.
See Google street view.

NOT Hartstong.

Hartstonge House, Limerick, 1908.
Note extension at rear. See full size.

Hartstonge House is a tall narrow town house, no garden, standing alone on Hartstonge St, towards the park (Pery Square) end, on RHS.
It was the home temp 1860s-80s 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.
Later from the Harris family came the actor Richard Harris (see filmography and here).

Stephen O'Mara bought Hartstonge House from the Harris family and settled here 1886.
[Pat Lavelle] 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 left c.1909, definitely gone by 1910.
Not sure if any other O'Maras lived there.

The house survives.
Now occupied by The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, who have named it Ozanam House after their founder.
There is a plaque to Joseph O'Mara, the opera singer on the house. It says he lived there.
The name "Hartstonge House" is now used by another building on the street, think across the street.

Hartstonge House. Photo 2006. See full size.
See alternate shot.

The lane that runs beside Hartstonge House. Photo 2006. See full size.
See alternate shot.

The rear of Hartstonge House. Photo 2006. See full size.
See alternate shot.

Hartstonge House.
Photo 2010.

O'Mara family gathering, "New Year's Eve, 1905", front door of Hartstonge House. See full size.

Front door of Hartstonge House. Photo 2006. See full size.

Turn the above picture sideways and you can see it has been distorted by being combined with another picture.
See full size.

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Movies

Front (Hartstonge St) side of Hartstonge House. Movie 2006.
From here. Hosted at my YouTube account.
Download AVI file.

Still from above. Looking up Hartstonge St towards Pery Square and the park.

Rear of Hartstonge House. Movie 2006.
Showing laneway that runs beside and behind the house.
From here. Hosted at my YouTube account.
Download AVI file.

Still from above.

Still from above.
The extension at rear was there in the O'Maras' time.

Still from above. Showing old side door.