Overview

The Ó Meadhra clan were a sept

Sept

A sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially a division of a clan. The word might have its origin from Latin saeptum "enclosure, fold", or it can be an alteration of sect.The term is found in both Ireland and Scotland...

 of the Dal gCais

Dál gCais

The Dál gCais were a dynastic group of related septs located in north Munster who rose to political prominence in the 10th century AD in Ireland. They claimed descent from Cormac Cas, or Cas mac Conall Echlúath, hence the term "Dál", meaning "portion" or "share" of Cas...

, and the name is most common in the dynasty

Dynasty

A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...

's homeland of north-east Thomond

Thomond

Thomond The region of Ireland associated with the name Thomond is County Clare, County Limerick and north County Tipperary; effectively most of north Munster. The name is used by a variety of establishments and organisations located in , or associated with the region...

 (nowadays north County Tipperary

County Tipperary

County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...

 and adjoining parts of County Clare

County Clare

-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...

. The family's home district was centered abour Toomevara

Toomevara

Toomevara, officially Toomyvara , is a village in North Tipperary, Ireland. The village is at the junction on the R445 where it meets the R499 regional road. The village was bypassed in December 2010 by the M7 Dublin - Limerick motorway. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of...

 (O'Meara

O'Meara

O'Meara is an Irish surname, anglicised from Ó Meadhra, originating in County Tipperary, and may refer to:* Andrew P...

's tumulus

Tumulus

A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...

).

Members of the family were physicians and poets to the Earl of Ormond. The last Gaelic-era Chief of the Name was Domhnall Ó Meadhra.

The surname is now anglacised as Meara or O'Meara.

Notables

• Dermod O'Meara
  Dermod O'Meara
  Dermod O'Meara was an Irish physician and poet, author of the first medical work printed in Dublin in 1619. He was the father of Edmund O'Meara.Dermod was the son of Domhnaill O'Meara, chief of the O'Meara sept and foster-father to Thomas Butler...
  
  , physician and poet, fl. 1619.
• Edmund O'Meara
  Edmund O'Meara
  Edmund O'Meara Irish physiologist and one of the last prominent champions of the medical ideas of Galen. Son of Dermod O'Meara who was a physician, poet and author...
  
  , physiologist, c. 1614–1681.
• Dermot O'Meara, physician, c. 1614-42.
• Barry Edward O'Meara
  Barry Edward O'Meara
  Barry Edward O'Meara was an Irish surgeon and founding member of the Reform Club, who accompanied Napoleon to St. Helena and became his physician, having been surgeon on board the Bellerophon when the emperor surrendered himself. He is remembered as the author of Napoleon in Exile, or A Voice...
  
  , surgeon, 1786-1836.
• Kathleen O'Meara
  Kathleen O'Meara
  Kathleen O'Meara is an Irish politician and member of the 21st and 22nd Seanads for the Labour Party in Ireland. On both occasions she was elected by the Agricultural Panel....
  
  , writer, 1839-1888.
• Joseph O'Mara, Opera singer,1866-1927.
• Kathleen O'Meara
  Kathleen O'Meara
  Kathleen O'Meara is an Irish politician and member of the 21st and 22nd Seanads for the Labour Party in Ireland. On both occasions she was elected by the Agricultural Panel....
  
  , politician, born 1960.
• Aileen O'Meara, journalist, twin sister of the above.