The O Mara Family O Mara Opima spolia (The spoils of honour) Revised August PDF Free Download

The O Mara Family O Mara Opima spolia (The spoils of honour) Revised August 2011 pg. 1

Contents 1. Introduction... 3 2. The O Mara history... 4 Page The O Mara residence line... 12 3. O Mara record report extracts... Marriage Records 14 Baptism & civil birth extracts 20 Census & residence 44 Burial records Mount St. Lawrence 58 pg. 2

1. Introduction Starting a family tree always seems like an easy task at first but as you delve deeper & deeper into it, not only does it get more interesting, it also gets more difficult! I worked on our family tree many years ago when my father was still alive and had recorded many facts that were memories only. Unfortunately, that information was lost and because of my father s death, is now lost forever. I decided to try to recreate some of that history for posterity and I must admit, learn some new things along the way. What started as a part-time hobby has now become somewhat of an obsession that I am sure will continue for many years! Ireland makes the task even harder for many reasons, such as records not been available on-line, the church refusing access to their files and many records getting lost over the years. I have been successful because the information is becoming more available and hope I have recorded it accurately. Dates are a particular area of contention. From about 1864, it was a legal requirement to register a birth in Ireland. The law required you to register the birth within 21 days or you were fined. Therefore, if you were too busy to register a birth, they changed the birth date so they would not be fined! Baptism records are regarded as accurate because you would not lie to a priest and generally, people were baptised within a day of birth because of the high infant fatality rate. Therefore, where a date of birth is obtained from a civil registry record, we have to take it with a pinch of salt but I have used these dates anyway. The other thing I have found with dates is the ages given in census information. Again, it seems people in the early 1900 s did not really know how old they were. A classic example is Hanorah Barry showing her age as 48 in 1901 and ten years later in 1911, declares herself as 50! This does make it difficult to track down birth records but not impossible! With the limerick records, I have also given the date of death. These dates are generally the date of burial not death and were obtained from the cemetery records. Burials generally took place within 24 hours of death so I think they are accurate enough for our purposes. During my research, I have had to assume some things until I could prove them correct and there are some things I have been unable to prove but feel they are correct. Where I have not confirmed something or where I am not 100% sure, I have indicated so. In the following pages, where I have managed to source records, I have indicated the record in blue and it is available in the annex. Anyway, enjoy what I have discovered so far and feel free to tell me of anything I have got wrong or anything I have missed. pg. 3

2. O MARA FAMILY HISTORY Limerick, Ireland The earliest O Mara I have traced is John O Mara, born between 1859 & 1866. (His father was also John, but we have no further information for him but it is believed they lived outside Limerick City). His birth year is estimated from his age given on the 1901 census (35 years), the 1911 census (50 years) and his burial book entry in 1915 (52 years). On his marriage certificate, he is shown as of age which means he was over 21 years, so he would have been born no later than November 1860. The problem is we do not know where he was born. I am still trying to trace his birth record. John married Mary O Donnell on 18 th November 1881 at St. Marys Limerick. (Marriage record). They were married by the Parish Priest, Daniel Fitzgerald and their witnesses were Michael McNamara & Catherine O Brian. From the certificate, we can see that neither John nor Mary could read or write because it was signed on their behalf by the priest (same hand writing and initialled). They were also shown as living at Meat Market Lane in Limerick. An interesting thing is that the surname used is O MEARA but I think this is only a spelling error by the priest and as they could not read or write, they could not correct him! The certificate also gives us the name of his father, John, who was dead in 1881. Mary O Donnell was born between 1859 & 1863. These years again come from the age given in the 1901 & 1911 census records. 12 children were born (1911 census record); o Catherine (Kate) born 15 September 1882, residing at Abbey, Limerick (baptism record extract) o Francis born?? 1884, residing at Abbey, Limerick (baptism record extract) o o o o Annie born 27 October 1886, residing at Abbey, Limerick (birth certificate) Michael, born 12 October 1887, residing at River Lane (civil birth record) Christina, born 27 Dec 1889, residing at Abbey, Limerick (civil birth record extract) Bridget, born 15 March 1892, residing at Abbey, Limerick (civil birth record extract) o Christopher (Christy), born January 1st 1895, residing at Fish Lane, Limerick (civil birth record extract) o Francis (Frankie), born 27 Jan 1897, residing at Emly St., Limerick (baptism record extract) o Joseph, born 13 May 1899, residing at St. John s Parish (Baptism record extract) o Gerard, born 1903 o James, born 1906 o?? pg. 4

There is one more to be found. I can surmise that this child was born and died before 31 st March 1901 as the names are not on the 1901 census record and the 1911 census shows us that they had 12 children with only 7 surviving when the census was taken. I have gone as far as I can with this research and to get any further, it will require a visit to Dublin. John O Mara is shown on the 1901 & 1911 census records working as a general labourer who could read & write. He died on 21 st July 1915 in Clare Street (Death certificate) of cardiac arrest and was buried on 26 th July 1915 in the family plot at Mount St. Lawrence by the Limerick Union. (Limerick burial records). Mary (O Donnell) O Mara is shown on the 1901 & 1911 census records. She is shown as a milk retailer and could read & write. On the 1923 & 1931 voters register, she is shown living at 55 Clare Street so probably the family home. It is hard to keep track after this but on the 1940 Voters register (page 60), a Mary O Mara is shown living at 5 Nicholas Street. These are shown as the Corporation Widows Alms Houses and this links nicely with the burial record showing a Mary O Mara, in the family plot at 80Bc, who died on 17th January and was buried on 19 th January 1943 (Limerick burial records) and her residence was shown as Widows home. The age given (84 years) would have made her year of birth 1859 which is correct. This has been confirmed by Mona O Mara (daughter of Joseph) as the right person. What we know of the children is as follows; o Catherine (Kate) was living at home in Sheep Street in 1901, could read and write, she was single and working as a domestic servant (1901 census). On 4 th July 1908 she married Christopher Ryan at St. Marys Limerick (Marriage certificate). She is not shown on the 1911 census so is believed to have died (because of the listed number of surviving O Mara children in that year). Research continues. o Annie died aged 7 months on June 10 th 1887 of bronchitis (Death certificate). She was buried in the family plot and is the first O Mara I can find buried here to date. o Francis died aged 7 years and was buried on June 30 th 1891 and is buried in the family plot in Mount St. Lawrence, 80Bc (Limerick Burial records). o Michael, My grandfather o Christina, she is shown on the 1901 Census as Mary C. and living at home in Sheep Street, a scholar who could read and write. On the 1911 census, she is shown as single and living at home at 13 St. Francis Place. Christina married Tommy Gleeson and died on 14 April 1928. She is buried in the family plot 80Bc (Limerick burial records). She was buried here because her mother Mary, a domineering woman, insisted on it. (Sourced verbally from Mona O Mara on 13 January 2011). See the section on the family plot for more information. pg. 5

o Bridget is also shown on the 1901 census as a scholar who could read & write. She was buried on 24 January 1910 at Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, plot 80Bc. (Limerick burial records). o Christopher (Christy) is on the 1911 census. He is shown living at home & working as a shop porter assistant. We can see he was called Christy because of the entry in the census. It is believed he went to live in Preston, England in the 1940 s. o Francis (Frankie) was baptised at St. Marys (baptism record extract). His sponsor was Patrick Daly and the record also states he was privately baptised. (I am not sure what this means). The 1911 census shows he was called Frankie and he could read & write. In 1923 he was living at 55 Clare Street, the family home (1923 voters register). On 23rd February 1924 at St. Joseph s church, he married Kitty Collins of New Street Limerick (Marriage certificate). The witnesses were his brother, James and Jennie Rochford. We know they had at least one child, Breda (Source Eileen O Mara). He died at Limerick City Hospital on 27 th July 1926 of Phthisis (TB) having been ill for 3 months (Death certificate) and was buried on 27 July 1926 at Mount St. Lawrence cemetery in the family plot. o Joseph was baptised at St. Johns Parish (baptism record extract). I have estimated his birth date as one day earlier. He is shown on the 1901 & 1911 census and he could read & write. He was married by Fr. Stephen Donnelly to Mary Kate Toohill on 1 st June 1917 (Marriage certificate) at the Roman Catholic Cathedral, Limerick. Interestingly, he is shown as a soldier and Mary Kate was shown as residing at 54 Clare Street, next door neighbours! In 1921 they were living at 41 Clare Street (Bridget s birth certificate) and in 1923 he was living at 55 Clare St. With other family members (1923 voters register). They had 12 children (Source Mona O Mara) 8 of which were girls, with only Mona O Mara and the boy s survived infancy. I have however; found another girl, Philomena which makes 13! The children s names are; Joseph born on 19 th January 1917 in a workhouse (birth certificate). His birth was not actually registered until 1934! (I wonder how much that fine was). Kathleen born on Nov 5th 1918 (birth certificate) and buried 9 th April 1919 in 80Bc aged 3 months (shown from 39 Clare Street) (Limerick burial records). Bridget born 29 th September 1921 (birth certificate) buried 6 th December 1921 in 80Bc, aged 3 months (Shown from 41 Clare Street) (Limerick burial records). Mary born 29 th March 1923 (birth certificate) and buried 9 th April 1923 in 80Bc aged 1 week (Limerick burial records). Teresa Mary born 18 th April 1924 (birth certificate), buried 28 th June 1928 in 80Bc, aged 3 years (Limerick burial records). Philomena born 30 th July 1925 (Birth certificate) died 2 months later on 23 rd September 1925, buried in 80Bc (Limerick burial records). pg. 6

Monica (Mona) born 29 th November 1926, Lying in Hospital Limerick (birth certificate). Mona is still living in Limerick. John (Sean) born 20 th January 1928 (Birth certificate) at 55 Clare Street. He moved to Birmingham, England and in 1952 married Ivy Bower. They had 2 children, Christine & Wendy. (Source Christine Greaves (nee O Mara)) Celine born 25 th July 1929 (Birth certificate) at 55 Clare Street and buried 24 th April 1930 in 82C, aged 8 months (Limerick burial records). (I think the burial record may have the wrong plot number). Patrick Joseph born 19 th March 1931 (Birth certificate) Ameldia (Imelda) born 3 rd September 1932 (Birth certificate) at 77 Clare Street and buried 5 th April 1949 aged 17 yrs 6 months (Limerick burial records). Delores born 16 th September 1935 (Birth certificate) and died of cot death. Mona remembers her mother walking down the stairs with a bundle in her arms in tears. She was buried on 16 th January 1937 in 80Bc (Shown from 77 Clare St) (Limerick burial records). Christopher (Christy) has been harder to trace to date but I know he also moved to England and married Beryl and had 4 children. (Source Christine Greaves (nee O Mara)) o The 1931 voters register shows Joseph was still living at 55 Clare Street with his wife, Mary Kate, his mother Mary & Brother James. The 1940 Voters register show a Joseph & Mary living at 75 O Dwyer Villas and they moved to Cannock, England some time later (Source Mona O Mara). Joseph & Mary Kate died in England in 1980 & 1968 respectively. (Source Dolores Wheelan (nee O Mara)). o Gerard is shown on the 1911 census as reading & writing. He is not shown on the 1923 voters register at the family address but may have lived in the area or married. He moved to Preston, England and he had one son that we know of, Patsy. My father used to talk to Gerard regularly and I spoke to him a few times on the phone in the early 1970 s. Patsy was a lorry driver and used to visit us in Bryntwood Road. o James is shown on the 1911 census, aged 5 years. He is shown living at 55 Clare Street in 1923 & 1931 census records. There is not much known of him but he is also believed to have moved to Preston, England. pg. 7

Michael O Mara was born about the 14 October 1887 in River Lane, Limerick (civil birth certificate). He is shown on the 1901 census, living with the family at 4 Sheep Street, aged 13, a scholar who could read & write. In the 1911 census, he is shown living with the family at 13 St. Francis Place, aged 22, single and a farmer. He was apparently called Frankie as a youngster (Source Mona O Mara) On 28 th November 1920 he married Mary Ann Maloney (born about 1886) at St. Joseph s church, Limerick by the parish Priest, Michael Tracy. Their witnesses were Christopher Ryan & Nellie Foley and Michael gave his occupation as Fireman (Marriage certificate). They moved to 5 Arthurs Quay (Mary-Ann s family home) and had 4 children; Kevin born 15 September 1921 Michael Arthur born 29 th September 1922 (Birth certificate). On this certificate, granddad gave his occupation as a Bandsman! Bridget born 18 th March 1924 (Birth certificate). Her birth certificate shows her name as Teresa! Francis born 8 th September 1926 (although he celebrated his birthday on 7 September!). (Birth certificate). In 1923 they lived at 5 Francis Street (1923 voters register) and in 1928 they are believed to have been living at 6 Francis Street when their son, Michael, died aged 5 years. He was buried on 5 th June 1928 in plot 80Bc (Limerick burial records). Michael was described as a big heavy man who worked in the merchant navy for many years and travelled all over the world. He worked as a delivery driver with a horse & cart for Croom s bakery and my mother tells a story that during the troubles/black & tans time, he always carried a pistol with him! Michael in Limerick still has the pistol. Nana O Mara told Michael (Garryowen) a story that during the troubles (1920-21) there was a curfew in place starting at 8pm in Limerick City and when granddad returned to Arthurs Quay one evening, at about 6pm, he pulled up outside the tenements. It was raining and as he went in the door there was a group of Tans sheltering inside. They gave him a bit of a beating but ran off when other people started coming out of their flats. Nanny went down to join him and they took the horse and cart around the side to the stables underneath where Michael took out a Vickers machine gun hidden underneath the floor of the cart. They set up the gun on the quayside and fired on the Garda station on the other side of the river. Before the soldiers could get to them, they took the gun to the basement again and hid it in a chimney breast over a cooker (the kitchens were communal and in the basement). The gun was found here many years later when they were knocking down the tenements. Michael went to see the builders, told them the story and they searched the basement. The gun is now in a Dublin museum. Granddad Michael was awarded the Black & Tan s medal and Nana O Mara was awarded the Cumann-na-mBam (Old IRA Women s Branch medal). pg. 8

Granddad Michael worked in England a fair bit, especially Coventry, and moved back to Ireland in the 1940 s. In 1931 they lived at 2 Customhouse Place (1931 voters register page 67 entry 242/3) In 1940 they lived at 38 Patrick Street (1940 voters register page 185 entry 402/403). (Kevin, Bridie & Frank were too young to be shown on the voters register.) In 1945 they are shown living at 38 Patrick Street (1945 voters register, page 198 entry 319/320) with Kevin. Michael or Bridie are not shown on this record as they may have been in Coventry at the time as Bridie lived there also. On the 15 th February 1947, Kevin married Teresa McElligot and set up home in Moors Place. In 1949 they moved to 72 Clare Street where Patty, Michael, Marian & Kevin were born. The 1950 voters register shows 38 Patrick Street occupied by Michael, Mary, Bridget & Frank. Michael died on 7 Sept 1951 of a heart attack and was buried in a new family plot in Mount St. Lawrence cemetery (60Vb) (Limerick burial records). Bridie & granny Mary-Ann moved to 39 Clare Street after his death. Bridie died in 1955 of Lathanritis kidney (believed to be code for cancer) and was buried on the 27 January 1955, aged 31 years with her father (Limerick burial records). Granny Mary-Ann, moved in with Kevin & Teresa at 72 Clare Street and in 1958 they all moved to Garryowen where Sheila was born. Mary Ann died on 5 th May 1970 at the ripe old age of 84 and is buried with her husband and daughter in Mount St. Lawrence, plot 60Vb. (Limerick burial records). Kevin died on 4 th December 1977 of a heart attack. He is also buried in Mount St. Lawrence, new section. pg. 9

O Mara Family Plot Mount St. Lawrence, Limerick, Ireland In the late 1800's-early 1900's, the church was responsible for burying people and if you could not pay, you were buried for free. Because of this, it was normal to have different family's buried in the same plot. In later years, the plots were sold by the church to individual familys and the poor buried in "paupers graves". During my research I have discovered a family plot in Mount St. Lawrence cemetery at 80Bc (see burial records). This plot was first used in 1887 for Anne O Mara and continued to be used up to at least 1949 for O Mara burials. The Limerick Burial Records show there are 15 O Mara s buried here including my Great-Grandfather in 1915 & Great-Grandmother in 1943. When I visited the graveyard in 2011, it proved difficult to exactly locate the spot at first as there were no O Mara tomb stones. However, Michael O Mara of Limerick had been shown a plot where he believed our uncle Michael was buried (died in 1928 aged 5 years). This plot was in the approximate area where I was researching but it had a new tomb stone with Gleeson & O Halloran s buried in it from 1928-2005. Also shown on the stone is our Great-grandmother, Mary O Mara! I re-checked the burial records and found that the first person named on the tombstone, Christina Gleeson 1928, was buried in plot 80Bc. Her age on the tombstone is shown as aged 44 but the burial record shows her as 34. I then spoke to Mona O Mara, daughter of Joseph, and she confirmed that Christina was an O Mara who wanted to be buried in the family plot with her father. Christina s mother, Mary, was a domineering woman who ruled the roost and insisted on it; hence the Gleeson s taking over the plot. (Tiny Meany Gleeson was a friend of nana O Mara s and was buried in the new family plot where my father is buried. I believe she was the sister of Thomas Gleeson (Christina s husband) and I have shown her as such so she can be on the tree). In plot 80Bc, the following O Mara s are buried; Anne 7 months 10 June 1887 Francis 7 years 30 June 1891 Bridget 17 years 24 January 1910 John 52 years 26 July 1915 Kathleen 3 years 31 January 1919 Bridget 3 months 6 January 1922 Mary 1 week 9 April 1923 Philomena 2 months 23 September 1925 Francis 27 years 27 July 1926 Michael 5 years 5 June 1928 Teresa 3 years 28 June 1928 Celine 8 months 26 April 1930 Delores 1 yr 4 months 16 January 1937 Mary 84 19 January 1943 Imelda 17 ½ 5 April 1949 pg. 10

In addition to the O Mara s, there are the following people and I am guessing at their links to each other, in relation to Christina; Christina Gleeson died 14 April 1928 aged 44 Mary O Mara died 17 Jan 1943 aged 84 Her mother Michael O Halloran died 22 April 1959 aged 18 Grandson Redmond O Halloran died 6 June 1995 aged 81 son-in-law Thomas Gleeson died Oct 1955 aged 62 husband Christopher Gleeson died 14 June 1997 aged? son Bridget O Halloran died 28 Sept 2005 aged 86 daughter pg. 11

O Mara Residency line 1881 Meat Market Lane Residence shown on Marriage certificate 1882 Abbey? (Lane) Birth of Catherine (Kate) O Mara 1886 Abbey, Birth of Anne O Mara in October 1887 River Lane Birth of Michael O Mara (Granddad) 1887 Sand Mall Anne s death certificate showed them living here on June 10th 1889 Abbey, Birth of Christina O Mara in December 1892 Abbey, Birth of Bridget O Mara in March 1895 Fish Lane Birth of Christopher 1897 Emly Street Birth of Francis in January 1901 4 Sheep St (census 1901) John, Mary, Kate, Michael, Mary C, Bridget, Christopher, Francis & Joseph 1908 St Francis place Catherine s marriage certificate 1911 13 St Francis place (Census 1911) John, Mary, Michael, Mary C, Christy, Frankie & Joseph 1915 Clare St Death certificate John O Mara 1919 39 Clare St. Burial record of Kathleen O Mara (Daughter of Joseph) 1922 41 Clare St. Burial record of Bridget O Mara (Daughter of Joseph) 1923 55 Clare St. (Voters 1923) Mary, Frank, James, Joseph, Kate 1931 55 Clare St. (Voters 1923) Mary, James, Joseph, Mary-Kate 1940 5 Nicolas Street (Corporation widow s alms houses) (1940 voters page 60) believed to be Mary O Mara (O Donnell), Great Grandmother 1940 75 O Dwyer Villas Joseph & Mary Kate shown at this address (1940 voters) pg. 12

Granddad & Granny O Mara (Francis Street became Patrick Street in early 1920 s) 1920 5 Arthurs Quay Lived here when first married (Marriage certificate) 1923 5 Francis Street Michael & Mary-Ann (voters register 1923) 1928 6 Francis Street Dad s brother Michael was registered here on his burial record 1931 2 Customhouse Place (voters register 1931, page 67 entry 242/3) Believed to have moved to 38 Patrick St when Granny s dad died (between 1931 & 1940?) 1940 38 Patrick St Voters register 1940, page 185, entry 402/403 1945 38 Patrick St Voters register 1945, page 198, entry 319/320/321 includes Kevin 1950 38 Patrick St (Voters register 1950, page 198, entry 198-206) Granny, Granddad, Bridget & Frank 1951 39 Patrick Street The Flat was owned by Mrs. Anne Slattery s and they moved here when Granddad died (from mum). 1955 72 Clare Street When Bridie died, nanny moved to Teresa & Kevin s, then onto Garryowen with them. pg. 13

O Mara Marriage Records pg. 16

Marriage John O Mara & Mary O Donnell 1881 pg. 17

Marriage Catherine O Mara & Christopher Ryan 1908 pg. 18

Marriage Joseph O Mara & Mary Toohill 1917 pg. 19

Marriage Michael O Mara & Mary Ann Maloney 1920 pg. 20

Marriage Frank O Mara & Kitty Collins 1924 pg. 21

O Mara Baptism & Civil birth extract Records pg. 22

Baptism Extract Catherine (Kate) O Mara 1882 pg. 23

Birth Certificate Ann O Mara 1886 pg. 24

Birth Certificate Michael O Mara 1887 pg. 25

Birth Extract Christina O Mara 1889 pg. 26

Birth Extract Bridget O Mara 1892 pg. 27

Birth Extract Christopher O Mara 1895 pg. 28

Baptism Extract Francis O Mara 1897 pg. 29

Baptism Extract Joseph O Mara 1899 pg. 30

Birth Certificate Joseph O Mara 1917 pg. 31

Birth Certificate Kathleen O Mara 1918 pg. 32

Birth Certificate Bridget O Mara 1921 pg. 33

Birth Certificate Michael O Mara 1922 pg. 34

Birth Certificate Mary O Mara 1923 pg. 35

Birth Certificate Teresa (Bridget) O Mara 1924 pg. 36

Birth Certificate Teresa O Mara 1924 pg. 37

Birth Certificate Philomena O Mara 1925 pg. 38

Birth Certificate Andrew Francis O Mara 1926 pg. 39

Birth Certificate Monica O Mara 1926 pg. 40

Birth Certificate John O Mara 1928 pg. 41

Birth Certificate Celine O Mara 1929 pg. 42

Birth Certificate Patrick Joseph O Mara 1931 pg. 43

Birth Certificate Ameldia O Mara 1932 pg. 44

Birth Certificate Delores O Mara 1935 pg. 45

O Mara Census & Residence Records pg. 46

1901 Census Summary pg. 47

1901 Census Household Return pg. 48

1901 Census Building Return pg. 49

1911 Census Summary pg. 50

1911 Census Household Return pg. 51

1911 Census Building Return pg. 52

1912 Voters Extract Page 8 pg. 53

1923 Voters Extract Page 55 & 56 pg. 54

1931 Voters Extract 55 Clare Street Limerick Page 57 pg. 55

1931 Voters Extract 2 Customhouse, Limerick Page 67 pg. 56

1940 Voters Extract 38 Patrick Street, Limerick Page 185 Page 60 pg. 57

1945 Voters Extract 38 Patrick Street, Limerick Page 198 pg. 58

1950 Voters Extract 38 Patrick Street, Limerick Page 199 pg. 59

O Mara Burial Records (Mount St. Lawrence) pg. 60

Burial Records & Death certificates pg. 61

Mount St. Lawrence Limerick Plots 80Bc & 60Vc marked pg. 62

Death Certificate Anne 1887 pg. 63

Burial Records Anne 1887 pg. 64

Burial Records Bridget 1910 pg. 65

Burial Record John 1915 pg. 66

Death Certificate John 1915 pg. 67

Burial Records Kathleen 1919 pg. 68

Bridget 1921 pg. 69

Mary 1923 pg. 70

Philomena 1925 pg. 71

Burial Record & Death Certificate Frank 1926 pg. 72

Burial Record Michael 1928 pg. 73

Burial Record Teresa 1928 pg. 74

Burial Record Celine 1930 pg. 75

Burial Record Delores 1937 House numbers changed-see 1931 voters register pg. 76

Burial Record Mary 1943 Burial Record Imelda 1949 pg. 77

Burial Record Michael 1951 Burial Record Bridie 1955 pg. 78

Burial Record Mary-Ann (Maloney) 1970 pg. 79

pg. 80