My ancestors - O'Mara - Contents

Stephen O'Mara, of Strand House

• References:
  • "Some Notable Mayors of Limerick", by Kevin Hannan, in [Lee, 1997].
  • Not While I Have Ammo: A History of Connie Mackey by Jim Corbett (2008).

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • O'MARA, STEPHEN MARY in [DIB]

  • "Stephen O'Mara and the Limerick Crisis, March 1922", by Ciarán Ó Gríofa, in [Lee, 1997].

   
Stephen O'Mara, Apr 1918, age 34 yrs.

Stephen O'Mara,
of Strand House, Limerick (his father's house),
born 5th Jan 1884,
educ Christian Brothers, and Clongowes,
not at home in census 1901, must be at boarding school,
listed at Strand House with father in census 1911, listed as "Director" of bacon factory,
went to Connie von Trapp's wedding, Austria, 1914,

joined Sinn Fein after 1916 Rising, listed as bacon merchant, living Strand House, at mar, mar 5 Feb 1918, Limerick Cathedral [GROI] to Nancy O'Brien, appointed member of Sinn Fein Standing Committee (or "Ard Chomhairle") for Dec 1918 general election, Mayor of Limerick, 22nd Mar 1921 - Jan 1922 (elected for rest of his predecessor's year), see the Town Hall, Limerick, took over as Mayor of Limerick after his 2 predecessors, Michael O'Callaghan (Mayor 1920) and George Clancy (elected Mayor Jan 1921, killed in office) were murdered in their homes by the Black and Tans in the small hours of 7th Mar 1921 (before them, the Mayor was his brother Phons), he 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], he was arrested by the British Apr 1921 and imprisoned for 1 week in Limerick gaol, it was him (NOT his father) who was appointed Trustee of Dail Eireann Funds when his brother Jim resigned May 1921, his obituary says he too raised funds in the US, in 1921, and was the underground government's Special Envoy to the US, he opposed the Treaty (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 early 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 in Mar 1922 that avoided conflict breaking out for now, see [Corbett, 2008], but Civil War broke out nationally in June 1922, during the Civil War he was arrested at Roscrea 9th Dec 1922, imprisoned by Free State, family very worried that he would be executed, Mayor of Limerick, Jan 1923 - 1st Oct 1923 (partial third term), resigned 1st Oct 1923,

biography in [Thom's Irish Who's Who, 1923] describes him as an "Alderman",
and as "Managing Director" of "O'Mara, Ltd., Bacon Curers", living Strand House,
strong supporter of Fianna Fáil (founded 1926),

he 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,
he was Chairman of O'Mara's bacon company at time of O'Mara's centenary, 1939,
living Strand House as at early 1940s,
NOT Senator (that was his father),

he moved out of Strand House, and donated the site to Limerick Corporation provided it was used to build a new town hall (NOT a park),
if they used it for any other purpose they were to give him the value of the land,
he moved (possibly as part of the deal with Limerick Corporation) to New Strand House (nr site of old Strand House), Ennis Rd, Limerick city,
article, think 1957 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,
Aodogán O'Rahilly remembered him sitting on the University Committee c.1957/8,
appointed to Council of State by President Eamon de Valera Oct 1959,
died Mater Hospital, Dublin, Wed 11th Nov 1959, age 75 yrs,
see obituary, Limerick Leader, 11th Nov,
funeral Fri 13th, Gardiner St Church, Dublin (his brother's church),
bur Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick,
Limerick Corporation did not use the Strand House site for a new town hall,
in early 1960s they sold the site to Jurys Hotels, gave money to O'Mara family,

Nancy died 11th Feb 1975,
bur Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick,
had adopted issue:

1. Peter O'Mara,
   mar Mary O'Connell and had issue:
   1. Anne O'Mara.
   2. Clare O'Mara, mar Thomas Hannigan and had issue:
      1. Peter Hannigan.
      2. Michael Hannigan.
      3. Thomas Hannigan.
      4. Elizabeth Hannigan.
   3. Stephen O'Mara.
   4. Peter O'Mara.
   5. Mary Agnes O'Mara.

Stephen O'Mara.
Photo of the Directors of O'Mara's at O'Mara centenary dinner, 1939.
See larger and full size.

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• 1916-23 period

• The Murdered Mayors, O'Callaghan and Clancy
  • There is a memorial near the site of Strand House to the murdered Mayors.
  • The two parts of the strand are named O'Callaghan's Strand and Clancy's Strand after them. Also O'Callaghan Ave.