George Dempsey (1854 – 29 June 1924) born in the parish of St. Mary's, Dublin was a teacher of English at Belvedere College, Dublin, Ireland, who taught English to the writer James Joyce and later the poet Austin Clarke during the time they attended the Jesuit school.[1] At the same time he ran a grocer's shop and post office at 13 Dunville Ave, Rathmines.[2] The character of Mr. Tate in Joyce's novels A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Stephen Hero is based on George Dempsey.[3] George Dempsey died at 13 Dunville Avenue at the age of 70.
An annual prize in memory of Dempsey is awarded each year at Belvedere College to a student who has excelled in English writing.