George Dempsey,
George Stanislaus Dempsey, born 1854, Dublin.
Teacher and mentor of
James Joyce.
The model for "Mr. Tate".
See wikipedia.
He was bapt 1854 (no precise date), St.Mary's (Pro-Cathedral), Dublin,
according to
transcript.
But cannot see it in
original.
He
taught English and History at
Belvedere College 1884 to 1923.
At marriage he was living 2 Fitzgibbon St, off Mountjoy Square (near Belvedere College).
He
mar 23 July 1888 to Mary Doyle [born 20 March 1865].
They ran a grocery and post office
at 13 Dunville Ave, Rathmines
(near Ranelagh,
see map)
and lived there.
Teaching apparently did not pay well,
so they ran the business to make more income.
In fact Mary ran the business, though George's name is on it in the directories.
She had the right background
for such a business.
So George was teaching on the northside,
but living on the southside.
Living 13 Dunville Ave at dau's birth 1890.
He is "Professor of Mathematics".
At daus' births 1895 and 1898 he is "teacher".
George S. Dempsey, grocer, post office, 13 Dunville Ave, Rathmines, is listed in
[Thom's] at least 1894 to 1919.
Mentor of James Joyce:
He was
James Joyce's
English teacher at Belvedere in 1894-1898,
and
was an important influence on him.
He picked him out early as a talented writer and encouraged him.
He would set an essay title for the other students, and then he would say:
"And Joyce, you can write about whatever you like."
In 1899 he put Joyce in contact with the editor of
The Fortnightly Review,
who then published Joyce's first published work in 1900.
Family is
listed
in 1901 census
on Dunville Ave, Rathmines.
He is listed as "Professor, Belvedere College".
In 1907 George Dempsey got a poem of Joyce (now in exile)
published anonymously in
The Belvederian
[Bradley, 2004].
Belvedere of course
wanted nothing to do with Joyce
until attitudes changed in the late 20th century.
See
entry
in 1911 census
on Dunville Ave, Rathmines.
He is "Professor of English Literature".
They have two servants living with them.
He was also the English teacher of the poet
Austin Clarke (born 1896)
who was at Belvedere in
1905-1912.
The character of "Mr. Tate"
in Joyce's novels
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
(1916)
and
Stephen Hero
(written 1904-1906, published 1944)
is based on Dempsey.
Listed as "Professor" at dau's mar 1916.
Listed as "merchant" at dau's mar 1921.
Listed as "Professor" at dau's mar 1922.
Retired from teaching 1923.
George dies, 1924:
He died 29 June 1924, 13 Dunville Ave, age 70 yrs.
See
death notice
in Irish Times,
June 30, 1924.
He was
bur at Glasnevin Cemetery, Tuesday, July 1, 1924.
See
funeral list
(and header)
in Irish Times,
July 3, 1924.
See obituary
part 1 and
part 2
in Irish Times,
July 5, 1924.
"Mrs. Dempsey" is
listed as niece of the Alderman at his death 1931.
Mary's address at death 1949
(in death cert and grave record)
is
Garda Depot, Phoenix Park (with her daughter).
Mary dies, 1949:
She died 16 July 1949, Portobello House, Dublin (nursing home), age 84 yrs.
See death cert
from here.
She was bur with husband at Glasnevin Cemetery.
George and Mary
had issue:
- Eileen Dempsey,
Eileen Mary Dempsey, think NOT Aileen,
born 2 Oct 1890, 13 Dunville Ave.
See birth cert
from here.
Listed in 1911 census as "Undergraduate, National University".
She taught languages at UCD.
At mar she is living 13 Dunville Ave, Rathmines.
She mar 2 Feb 1916
to John Patrick Healy and had issue.
They mar at Rathmines RC church.
See mar cert
from here.
They were married by her mother's 1st cousin
Fr. John Flanagan.
- George Dempsey,
born 1892.
He died 28 Oct 1897, age 5 yrs.
He was bur Dempsey grave at Glasnevin.
- Marjorie Dempsey,
Marjorie Helen Dempsey,
born 2 Mar 1895, 13 Dunville Ave.
See birth cert
from here.
She wit her sister's mar 1916.
At mar she is living 13 Dunville Ave, Rathmines.
She mar 2 Feb 1921 to
Dr. Vincent Ellis
and had issue.
They mar at RC church, Rathmines.
See mar cert
from here.
- Geraldine Dempsey,
Geraldine Mary Dempsey,
born 9 Sept 1898, 13 Dunville Ave.
See birth cert
from here.
Her album survives, given to her at Easter 1911 (age 12).
In front she has written "Geraldine Dempsey, 13 Dunville Avenue, Rathmines".
Her friends wrote things in it.
See page
and page.
She wit her sister's mar 1921.
She was educ NUI, became a doctor.
M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., 1921.
Medical Directory in [Thom's, 1923, p.971]
lists (before her marriage) G. M. Dempsey, M.B., B.CH., NUI, address 13 Dunville Ave, Rathmines.
At mar she is Medical Doctor, living 13 Dunville Ave, Rathmines.
She
mar 3 July 1922 to Dr. Edward McElligott
and had issue.
They mar at RC church, Rathmines.
See mar cert
from here.
