I am currently researching the role my family played between the Easter Rising and the end of the Civil War. My great-grandfather was William Oman, Irish Citizen Army. He played ‘The Last Post’ after Pearse’s speech at the funeral of O’Donovan Rossa and sounded the ‘Fall-In’ at Liberty Hall on Easter Monday Morning 1916. He went on to fight in with the City Hall Garrison, Jacob’s Factory Garrison and College of Surgeon’s Garrison. He was in ‘G’ Company 1st Battalion, Dublin IRA. I have his witness statement from the MIlitary Archives. His brother George was also in the I.C.A and was in the G.P.O/Imperial Hotel area for the Rising. Their uncle Robert ‘Bob’ Oman was in the Four Courts area for the Rising and was a Captain in the IRA in the same company as William during the War of Independence. Have you ever come across any information on these three individuals? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Niall
I’m a few years behind in this thread but thought I would wade in for those that dont know. Hi Niall. :))
My Grand Mother is Mary Oman (O’Mara). She was Williams sister!
I have been doing our family research as well and the Omans are also my family 🙂
Sean o
how many sons and daughters are still alive to day of the 1916 I C A my dad 90 and in good health his dad Peter Carpenter and his brother Walter served in G P O would love to know
Hi Niall Daniel Reddy was william Oman grandfather on his mothers side. When the oman family moved out, william stayed with his grandad for what reason I’m not sure.
My dad Billy and your grandfather are brothers.
Hi Joseph,
Good to hear from you. Thanks for the information. William was my great-grandfather, his son Paddy Oman was my grandad, he grew up in Drumcondra but then moved tp Blackpitts in Harolds Cross, that’s where my father Derek is from.
Niall
MY dad worked with Johnny Oman – he was a cabinet maker in the Inchicore Railway Works – He had a brother named Bob, who was wanted by the Black and Tans because of his activities in the War of Independence. Johnny’s house was raided because they thought his brother, Bob, was there – Johnny’s wife was attached by them – in their search – Johnny was a great athletic in his young days and later became the physio for the Dublin City Harriers Running Club. my dad is still alive aged 94 and can still remember these guys. My dad’s father was No 28 in the Irish Citizen Army and was in St Stephen’s Green in 1916 too – he also was in Frongoch – so they may have know each other. My grand-father was on the firing squad over O’Donovan Rossa’s grave.
Hi Liam,
Thanks for the information. Bob Oman was my great-grandfather William’s uncle. They were in the same unit of the IRA during the War of Independence. Does your father remember William at all, his friends called him Bill. Or his brother George, both were in the Citizen Army for the Rising.
Niall
Hi folks,
Please email any info regards my great-grandfather to my new address niall.oman@gmail.com
Thanks,
Niall
Hello, Niall,
I am Brian’s brother and another son of John. Congratulations on your work, Niall. I have a question about my grandfather that his sons and daughters over here have been unable to answer. At age 11, William Oman lived with his uncle, Daniel Reddy, a 68-year-old house painter. They both were residents of a house 6.2 in Back Lane (Merchant’s Quay, Dublin), according to the 1911 Census.
You can look it up at http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/
I cannot imagine that a 68-year-old man in turn-of-the-last-century Dublin was capable of taking care of an 11-year-old boy. In fact, I suspect it was the other way around – that my grandfather actually was dispatched to take care of Mr. Reddy. That would then make sense of why a 14-year-old boy was taking to the streets in the labor strife of 1914 and the Easter Uprising two years later. William Oman grew up fast.
And another thing. What is the distinction between the Irish Citizen Army and the Irish Volunteers. I always understood that William Oman actually was part of the labor-union backed Irish Citizen Army under the leadership of James Connolly.
I also presume you have run across the statement William Oman gave on his role in the uprising. Let me know.
With warmest regards, I am,
Sincerely,
Noel
Hi Noel,
When I began researching William Oman I can across the same 1911 census entry you have and the question you ask is also something I have thought about as well. I have no answer for it but perhaps uncle Peter or Ultan may know, I’ll email them and ask.
You are correct to say that William was in the Irish Citizen Army (I.C.A). It was a socialist/republican group set up originally by James Larkin and James Connolly to defend workers from police attacks when they were on strike. About 200 I.C.A members took part in the 1916 Easter Rising including William and his slightly older brother George. The Irish Volunteers was a larger nationalist group and about 1,000 of it’s members took part in the Rising
By 1919 the I.C.A and the Irish Volunteers had amalgamated into the Irish Republican Army (I.R.A). During the War Of Independence William was in the same I.R.A unit as his uncle Robert ‘Bob’ Oman, who was his commanding officer.
I have a digital copy of William’s witness statement and will gladly email it to you with other information I have come across. Feel free to email me : niall.oman@ucdconnect.ie
Kind regards,
Niall
Greetings, Niall. I guess you’re my cousin! Who’s child are you? My father John may have some answers for you. I can get you all connected. Will e-mail soon. Cheers!
Hi Brian,
My father is Derek and his father was Paddy. Would your father be the John Oman who moved to America in the 1950’s along with his brothers Peter and Ultan? As I was only talking to Peter face to face two nights ago. He knows the information I’ve gathered thus far. Would be delighted to get in contact with you.
Niall
Hi
My grandmother had a connection to William Oman. Her name was hannah.
My dad remembers him and his brother but cannot remember the connection to my grandmother. My own brother has traced info on the Omans doing research for the family tree. My dad remembers them staying at 8 Joyce Road Drumcondra and he visited this house with my grandmother when he was young. We were actually discussing it today as I,m visiting Dublin myself soon.
If you are interested I can see what info my brother has on the Omans.
My email address is annabowman6@yahoo.com.
Kind regards
Anna
Hi Anna,
I sent you an e-mail the other day, let me know if you received it.
Kind regards,
Niall
Hi Niall,
Your Grandfather William Oman is mentioned on the plaque outside City Hall. It is the plaque titled “Irish Citizen Army” “Members of the 1916 Garrison and its Outposts. The outost in which he was stationed was “Nicholas Street Graveyard”. His two comrades at this post was Michael Delaney and Patrick Joseph Williams. Check and see if either of these two men left statements as it may furture your research. My email is langton39@hotmail.com if you would like a photo of the plaque.
Kindest Regards
James Langton