Tony Dempsey
Encyclopedia
Tony Dempsey is an Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician. He was a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Wexford constituency
from 2002 to 2007.
Dempsey is a native of Davidstown, County Wexford
, and was educated at Enniscorthy
Christian Brothers School, University College Dublin
and St. Patrick's College, Maynooth
. Prior to his entry to politics, he worked as a secondary schoolteacher and was a principal teacher of a large secondary school in Enniscorthy at the time of his election.
Dempsey was best known, however, for his involvement with Gaelic games
in County Wexford. He had been appointed chairman of Wexford County Board (the governing body of the Gaelic Athletic Association
in the county) in 1976 at the age of 35, becoming one of the youngest ever persons to hold the position, and he had been heavily involved with inter-county hurling
and Gaelic football
teams in Wexford either as a trainer, selector or manager. He trained the Wexford Junior Gaelic football team to a Leinster
championship in 2000 when they defeated Dublin
in the final. At the time of his election, he was manager of the Wexford Senior Hurling team.
Dempsey was elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 2002 general election
. This was the first time that he had stood for election at any level. He had been chosen as a candidate in the hope of increasing Fianna Fáil's vote and obtaining three seats out of five in the constituency for the party. However, the strategy was unsuccessful and while Dempsey was elected, it was at the expense of a party colleague, Hugh Byrne. Dempsey failed to make much impact as a member of Dáil Éireann, and did not contest the 2007 general election. He was elected to Wexford County Council
at the 2009 local elections
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
politician. He was a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for the Wexford constituency
Wexford (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Wexford is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
from 2002 to 2007.
Dempsey is a native of Davidstown, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
, and was educated at Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy is the second largest town in County Wexford, Ireland. The population of the town and environs is 9538. The Placenames Database of Ireland sheds no light on the origins of the town's name. It may refer either to the "Island of Corthaidh" or the "Island of Rocks". With a history going...
Christian Brothers School, University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
and St. Patrick's College, Maynooth
National University of Ireland, Maynooth
The National University of Ireland, Maynooth , was founded by the Universities Act, 1997 as a constituent university of the National University of Ireland. It is Ireland's second oldest university, having been formed from St Patrick's College, Maynooth, itself founded in 1795.The university is...
. Prior to his entry to politics, he worked as a secondary schoolteacher and was a principal teacher of a large secondary school in Enniscorthy at the time of his election.
Dempsey was best known, however, for his involvement with Gaelic games
Gaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
in County Wexford. He had been appointed chairman of Wexford County Board (the governing body of the Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
in the county) in 1976 at the age of 35, becoming one of the youngest ever persons to hold the position, and he had been heavily involved with inter-county hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
and Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
teams in Wexford either as a trainer, selector or manager. He trained the Wexford Junior Gaelic football team to a Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
championship in 2000 when they defeated Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
in the final. At the time of his election, he was manager of the Wexford Senior Hurling team.
Dempsey was elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
at the 2002 general election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
. This was the first time that he had stood for election at any level. He had been chosen as a candidate in the hope of increasing Fianna Fáil's vote and obtaining three seats out of five in the constituency for the party. However, the strategy was unsuccessful and while Dempsey was elected, it was at the expense of a party colleague, Hugh Byrne. Dempsey failed to make much impact as a member of Dáil Éireann, and did not contest the 2007 general election. He was elected to Wexford County Council
Wexford County Council
Wexford County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Wexford in Ireland. The Council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment. The head of the council has the title of Chairman...
at the 2009 local elections
Irish local elections, 2009
The 2009 Irish local elections were held in all the counties, cities and towns of Ireland on Friday, 5 June 2009, on the same day as the European Parliament election and two by-elections .-Overview:...
.