O’Hara, John

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John O'Hara

John O'Hara was a wine and spirit merchant who was elected onto the Celtic board at the first meeting of the newly formed public limited liability company on June 17th 1897 in the Annfield Hall, Gallowgate.

He served on the board until his death in 1905.

John O'Hara was a Celtic committee man from the outset in 1888 (the club was not yet a business with a formal board), and when subscriptions were asked for in January of that year, he was one of the collectors, living at 77 East Rose Street.

He had started off as a shoemaker but an aptitude for organisation had seen him become secretary of the Operative Shoemakers' Society.

He died on 29th May 1905 of cardiac failure at 351 Gallowgate, Glasgow, husband of Sarah McDonald, aged 56, son of Patrick O'Hara and Elizabeth O'Neill and the death certificate was signed by his son Hugh O'Hara.

– John married Sarah McDonald on 2nd December 1864 at St Alphonsus', Stevenson Street – a church established in 1846, 4 years after nearby St Mary's. They were both born in Ireland, both 19 and John's occupation was "Shoemaker"

– The 1871 census shows them living at Millroad St, Calton, and by 1881 they had moved to 77 East Rose Street. Both censuses still show his occupation as "Shoemaker".

– In 1891 they lived with 8 of their 9 children at 19 Moore St, Dennistoun. The eldest (Jane) would have been 26 and likely married. By this time John had made a major career change, as his occupation was now "Life Insurance Agent".

– By 1901 there are clues to the family's accumulated wealth. On the day of the census John was living alone at 351 Gallowgate – where he was to die in 1905. His occupation simply stated "Own means". At the same time, Sarah and the unmarried children were living at "Ardmount", Ardmorg Road, Rothesay. Sarah and the children of working age all gave their occupations as "Living on own means". So perhaps Rothesay became the family home while John had still to spend some time in Glasgow to be near his business interests.

Mr O'Hara owned a pub at 140 London Road, he had his owned blend of Scotch Whisky called the "Royal Shield". His son John jun. took over the business in 1903, he then acquired the Clyde Vaults, Nuneaton Street and 45 Norfolk Street.

In summary, John O'Hara was a self-made man who was born around the height of the famine in 1847, but ended his life as a wealthy businessman. It seems that when he became Celtic's first secretary, it looks like his star was starting to go into its ascendancy.

(4th from left, middle row)

back row second from end

Delegates to the first conference of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives at Northampton in 1874.

John would appear to be seated, third from left.source: http://www.unionancestors.co.uk/bootmakers.htm

From Willie Maley's 'The Story of the Celtic'

(the year of death in the below pic is wrong, should say 1905)