My ancestors - O'Mara - Contents
Strand House, Limerick
Strand House stood in grounds on the river at Sarsfield Bridge, start of Ennis Rd, Limerick city.Strand House was on the side of the bridge which is now O'Callaghan's Strand.
- References:
- "Dev, the phone call and the Treaty", Etienne Rynne, Limerick Leader, 15 Dec 2001.
- Sources yet to be consulted:
- Frank Gallagher, book on Dev and the Treaty,
mentions O'Mara and Strand House,
this must be The Anglo-Irish Treaty, 1965, [TCD] 941.591 K5
- Frank Gallagher, book on Dev and the Treaty,
mentions O'Mara and Strand House,
Eamon de Valera staying with Stephen O'Mara at Strand House, as the Treaty was being signed in London, night of 5-6 Dec 1921.
This was taken the morning after the Treaty was signed, 6 Dec 1921.
Back (Left to Right): Michael Rynne (aide-de-camp to Dick Mulcahy), Dick Mulcahy (Chief of Staff of IRA).
Front (Left to Right): Mary O'Mara, Eamon de Valera (President of the Irish Republic), Stephen O'Mara, Cathal Brugha (Minister for Defence).
This is the correct way round (doorbell on RHS).
See full size.
Stephen O'Mara moved to Strand House c.1909.
His wife died there 1910.
His widowed daughter Mary Rynne moved in there with him at some time after her husband died 1907.
On 5th Dec 1921,
Eamon de Valera,
Dick Mulcahy
and
Cathal Brugha
were down in Limerick reviewing troops of Volunteers,
while Treaty negotiations
reached a climax in London.
Dev received Freedom of the City.
The younger
Stephen O'Mara
was Mayor of Limerick at this time.
De Valera, Mulcahy and Brugha
stayed night of 5-6 Dec
with old Stephen O'Mara in
Strand House.
Early in the morning a phone call came through with
the news that the
Treaty
had been signed in London
(signed in early hours of 6 Dec 1921).
Old Stephen O'Mara saw them off at the station.
"the split had come but no one told Grandfather that the Treaty was signed".
He heard it for the first time as he walked home. He said:
"I have just seen the Chief off at the station.
I am sure there's a truth in these rumours".
Stephen O'Mara died 1926.
The younger
Stephen O'Mara
then lived at Strand House,
still there as at early 1940s,
eventually moved out of Strand House,
donated the site to
Limerick Corporation
provided it was used
to build a new
town hall.
Stephen O'Mara
moved to nearby New Strand House,
Ennis Rd, Limerick, and he died 1959.
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.
Strand House was demolished, prob. early 1960s.
The site was
Jurys Hotel, Limerick
from around the 1960s
to the 1990s.
Jurys Hotel was then demolished.
Site was redeveloped as
"The Strand", Limerick
(apartments)
and the Strand Hotel.
No trace of Strand House left.
Some of the old wall survives.
Strand House on 1887 to 1913 map.
Site of Strand House.
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From
Google Maps.
Strand House, in the time of the younger
Stephen O'Mara.
See larger
and full size.
Stephen O'Mara
in later years.
Strand House.
See larger
and full size.
Strand House, 1925 or 1926.
Background: Mary O'Mara,
Nancy O'Brien,
Pat and Dick Lavelle.
Foreground:
Stephen O'Mara
and his great-grandson,
Ruaire Lavelle.
See full size.
