Rev Michael Dempsey
Title:
Rev
First Name:
Michael
Middle Names:
Preferred Name:
Surname:
Dempsey
Order:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Ballyhale, Co Kilkenny
Country of Birth:
Ireland
Date of Ordination:
Place of Ordination:
St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny
Country of Ordination:
Ireland
Ordination Diocese:
Seminary:
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Naracoorte SA
Country of Death:
Australia
Date of Burial:
Place of Burial:
Naracoorte SA
Country of Burial:
Australia
Find A Grave URL:
Appointments Table
Diocese | Place | Role | Start Day | Start Month | Start Year | End Day | End Month | End Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | Murray Bridge | Assistant Priest | 1 | Nov | 1934 | Apr | 1938 | Adelaide, Biographies of deceased clergy | |
| Adelaide | Thebarton | Assistant Priest | Apr | 1938 | Jun | 1944 | Adelaide, Biographies of deceased clergy | ||
| Adelaide | Karoonda | Priest in Charge | 7 | Jun | 1944 | 1946 | Adelaide, Biographies of deceased clergy | ||
| Adelaide | Tailem Bend | Priest in Charge | 1946 | 1954 | Adelaide, Biographies of deceased clergy | ||||
| Adelaide | Naracoorte | Parish Priest | 1954 | Jun | 1963 | Adelaide, Biographies of deceased clergy; Gravestone |
Biographical Notes
Fr Frank Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants: Recalling the Spirit of the Deceased Priests of the Diocese of Port Augusta and Port Pirie 1888-2008, 2008:
Dempsey, Michael
Served Loxton and Paruna from Murray Bridge 1946
(Reproduced with the approval of Sister Mary Cresp RSM)
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Archdiocese of Adelaide, Biographies of deceased clergy, coordinated by Monsignor John Swann, available from https://adelaide.catholic.org.au/our-people/biographies-of-deceased-clergy, accessed on 6 November 2025:
Fr Michael Dempsey
Biography:
Early Life
Michael Dempsey was born on May 19, 1908 at Ballyhale, Co. Kilkenny in Ireland. His early education was at St Kieran’s College in Kilkenny and his theological studies were undertaken at ecclesiastical training section of the same College. On June 10, 1934 he was ordained priest in the St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny.
Like a number of priests from Kilkenny, Fr Dempsey volunteered to come to Australia, leaving soon after his ordination and arriving in Adelaide on November 14, 1934.
Appointments
Immediately after arrival he was appointed Assistant Priest at Murray Bridge where he remained for three and a half years. In April 1938 he was appointed Assistant Priest at Thebarton for a term of six years. On June 7, 1944 he was appointed Priest in Charge at Karoonda and two years later he took up a similar role at Tailem Bend.
Life in the South East
After eight years at Tailem Bend he was moved to Naracoorte as Parish Priest. He left a lasting impression on this parish. He was noted for his great hospitality, especially to fellow priests. But he also had a real soft spot for the so-called ‘no hopers’ who regularly called for a meal and shelter. Fr Mick, as he was known, had a special room at the back of, but detached from the presbytery which was called the ‘Aula Serena’ and often used to provide accommodation for those passing through. One ‘regular caller’ was a shearers’ cook and when not employed often came to Fr Mick who sometimes made use of him as his ‘private chef’ when entertaining fellow priests of the South East.
Fr Michael was noted for his good relations with other Ministers of Religion in the area and they often travelled together to give religious instruction in the various State Schools in the region.
Fr Michael took extended leave to Ireland in May 1962.
Sudden death
Fr Michael always gave the impression of a very robust man with a strong constitution, and everyone was surprised when he was afflicted with a strange infection in his throat that made him unable to breathe. He died quite suddenly on June 14, 1963.
His Requiem Mass was celebrated in the local parish church of St Thomas Aquinas at Naracoorte and he was buried in the local cemetery.
May he rest in peace.
Reproduced by permission of Monsignor John Swann and the Archdiocese of Adelaide.