James O'Mara (formerly O'Meara; 1817–1899) was a nationalist politician, justice of the peace and businessman in

Limerick Limerick ( ; ) is a city in western Ireland, in County Limerick. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and is in the Mid-West Region, Ireland, Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. W ...

. O'Mara was born in 1817 in Toomyvara,

County Tipperary County Tipperary () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. The county is named after the town of Tipperary (tow ...

. Moving to Limerick city, he established O'Mara's Bacon Company in 1839. He changed his name to "O'Mara" in order to shorten it for commercial purposes. He became one of the prominent businessmen of the city. In 1841 he married Hanora Foley. Their children included the future Mayor of Limerick, MP and Senator, Stephen O'Mara. O'Mara was an early supporter of

Isaac Butt Isaac Butt (6 September 1813 – 5 May 1879) was an Irish barrister, editor, politician, Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, economist and the founder and first leader of a number of Irish nationalist par ...

's Home Rule movement. He was a member (with his son Stephen) of the Butt Committee, which successfully promoted Butt's election for Limerick city, in the bye-election of 20 September 1871. He is listed in contributors to "The Butt Testimonial". He became a Limerick Poor Law Guardian and is described as such when appointed as High Sheriff of Limerick City for 1887. On 26 November 1887, while High Sheriff, he received an Irish American

Fenian The word ''Fenian'' () served as an umbrella term for the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and their affiliate in the United States, the Fenian Brotherhood. They were secret political organisations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries ...

who delivered an oration at the unveiling of a memorial to the Fenian

Manchester Martyrs The Manchester Martyrs () were three Irish Republicanism, Irish Republicans – William Philip Allen, Michael Larkin, and Michael O'Brien – who were Hanging, hanged in 1867 following their conviction of murder after an attack on a police van i ...

of November 1867. His son Stephen (who was a Fenian in his younger years) was also present. James O'Mara was succeeded for 1888 as High Sheriff by Stephen. O'Mara was a Town Councillor on Limerick Corporation for the Dock Ward at least 1888 to 1898. O’Mara was also a member of the Limerick Harbour Commissioners, a Governor of the Fever Hospital, and a Trustee of the Limerick Savings Bank. He was nominated for

Mayor of Limerick The Mayor of Limerick is the head of the local government of the Limerick, City and County Limerick, County of Limerick. It is a directly elected office with a five-year term. Following the 2024 Limerick mayoral election, John Moran (Mayor of Li ...

but declined. He was a Justice of the Peace (also described as Magistrate of Limerick and a Visiting Justice of the Male and Female Prisons) as of 1893 and remained in that post up to his death in 1899.

References

1817 births 1899 deaths 19th-century Irish politicians High sheriffs of Limerick City Irish justices of the peace Members of Limerick City Council Businesspeople from Limerick (city) People from Toomevara Politicians from County Tipperary {{Ireland-bio-stub