Luke Dempsey OP, RIP

Dominican priest Luke Dempsey died yesterday in Kiltipper Nursing Home, where he had been a resident for over two years. 

Luke was assigned to St Mary's Priory, Tallaght, which is close to the nursing home. It made it easy for his Dominican confreres to visit him. Priests from St Mary's celebrate weekly Mass at the nursing home.

Luke was born in Kilcash, Co. Tipperary at the foothills of Slievenamon, between Clonmel and Carrich-on-Suir on February 7, 1934. Luke joined the Irish Dominicans in September 1952 and was ordained a priest in 1959.

He did postgraduate studies in Rome and spent some years teaching the history of philosophy and theology at the Dominican studium in Tallaght. In the academic year 1963/'64 he taught oriental theology to the class of young Dominicans before their priestly ordination.

In the 1970s he moved to Canada where he continued his teaching career.

Luke had a special love for English literature and had a wide and extensive knowledge of the great English writers. He enjoyed quoting from the bards and with ease he could quote extensively from Old English right up to modern poets.

It is widely rumoured that Luke got first place in Ireland in English in his Leaving Certificate Examination.

In 1977 he oversaw the publication of Miscellany to mark 300 years of the Irish Dominican presence  in San Clemente.

In the mid-1970s Luke was elected prior at the Dominican Priory at San Clemente in Rome. He went on to spend many years in Rome and during that time he was also prior of a Dominican international community attached to the University of St Thomas.

From there he moved to Santa Maria Maggiore, where he was a member of a team, who administered the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Luke was also prior of the well-known International centre of biblical studies, École biblique in Jerusalem.

In early September 1974 I travelled by rail from Munich to Rome. Some days earlier there had been a terrorist attack at Bologna Rail Station. As a result of the incident rail timetables had been thrown out of kilter.

Consequently my train arrived many hours late in Rome. There, waiting for me at Rome's main railway station, Stazione Termini, was Luke Dempsey. He had waited many hours for me at the station. We were not acquainted with one another, maybe we had met once some years earlier.

It said much about the kindness and consideration of the man. He was a gentleman. A gracious person, who was a wonderful host.

Luke had a great sense of humour, at times it could appear obtuse. He had that gift of easily confusing his listener, always done with a roguish smile.

There was not a hint of anything sinister or nasty about Luke. He always looked for the best in people.

As prior at San Clemente a small number of the community attempted to bully Luke. They were forceful and difficult people. Luke refused to be bullied and stood his ground. It was not an easy time for him but he carried his cross with grace and dignity.

The late Fr John Michael Heuston at the time commented that the walls of San Clemente were drenched in centuries of such activity.

Over the last number of years Luke was afflicted with dementia/Alzheimer's, but even bowed down with such an illness, his graciousness and wit would often shine.

He was the gentlest of men, a fine priest, a good man, who touched the lives of many people.

Before moving to Kiltipper Nursing Home he was cared for in a loving manner by the caring team and the prior of St Mary's, Donal Roche.

May he rest in peace.

Reposing in St Mary's Priory Tallaght from 3pm this Wednesday, February 12. Removal to the priory church at 5.30pm on Thursday. Funeral Mass at 11.30pm on Friday followed by burial in the community cemetery.