Clodagh Finn: The Limerick woman who married into the real von Trapp singing family

Julie Andrews in the film ‘The Sound of Music’.

THE story of how Constance O’Mara, of the Limerick bacon-factory family, came to marry an uncle of the real singing von Trapps — made famous by The Sound of Music — is worthy of a film in itself.

The improbable family link is recalled by her relatives every Christmas when the musical, with its sentimental mix of music, love and patriotism, beams into festive living rooms.