George Dempsey,
teacher of
James Joyce
and the model for "Mr. Tate",
George Stanislaus Dempsey, born 1854, Dublin,
bapt 1854
[St.Mary's RC par records].
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 1888 to Mary Doyle [born 20 March 1865].
Despite teaching at Belvedere College on the northside,
he also ran a grocery and post office on the southside,
at 13 Dunville Ave, Rathmines
(near Ranelagh,
see map).
He is George S. Dempsey, grocer, post office, 13 Dunville Ave, Rathmines, listed in
[Thom's] at least 1894 to 1919.
Mentor of James Joyce:
He was
James Joyce's
English teacher at Belvedere 1894-98,
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.
See
entry
on Dunville Ave, Rathmines, in
[Census, 1901].
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
on Dunville Ave, Rathmines, in
[Census, 1911].
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
1905-12.
The character of "Mr. Tate"
in Joyce's novels
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
(1916)
and
Stephen Hero
(written 1904-06, 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.
Death cert and grave record say
her address at death was
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 M. Dempsey, think NOT Aileen, born 1891, Dublin.
Listed in 1911 census as "Undergraduate, National University".
At mar she is living 13 Dunville Ave, Rathmines.
She mar 2 Feb 1916, Rathmines RC church,
to John Patrick Healy
[son of Peter Healy, publican].
At mar he is listed as "agent", living Bray.
See mar cert
from here.
They were married by her mother's 1st cousin
Fr. John Flanagan.
They
had issue:
- Fergus Healy.
- Tim Healy.
- Dermot Healy.
- George Dempsey, born 1892,
died 28 Oct 1897, age 5 yrs, bur Dempsey grave at Glasnevin.
- Marjorie Dempsey,
Marjorie H. Dempsey, born 1895, Dublin.
She wit her sister's mar 1916.
At mar she is living 13 Dunville Ave, Rathmines.
She mar 2 Feb 1921, RC church, Rathmines, to
Dr. Vincent Ellis
and had issue.
See mar cert
from here.
- Geraldine Dempsey,
Geraldine Mary Dempsey, born 1899, Dublin.
She wit her sister's mar 1921.
She was educ NUI, became a doctor.
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, RC church, Rathmines, to Dr. Edward Thomas McElligott
[son of Patrick McElligott, hotel proprietor].
At mar he is Medical Doctor, living London.
See mar cert
from here.
McElligott not found in Medical Directory in later [Thom's].
They must have moved to England.
They had issue:
- Paddy McElligott.
- Sue McElligott.
- Brian McElligott.