Dorothy Edith Mary (Dermody) McCormack (1909 - 2012)

Born 26 Apr 1909 in Ballyhasty, Cloughjordan, County Tipperary, Ireland

Died 10 Apr 2012 at age 102 in Killiney, County Dublin, Ireland

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Biography

Dorothy (Dermody) McCormack is Notable.

Dorothy (Dermody) McCormack was a centenarian, living to age 102.

Dorothy represented Ireland in Fencing in the London Olympics of 1948.

Dorothy Dermody was a native of Tipperary, who led an adventurous life of over a hundred years. She was the wife of Cyril McCormack, son of the world famous tenor John McCormack.

Early Life

Dorothy was born in 1909^[1] to William Dermody and Julia Evans. B. Hogan was present at her birth. The Dermodys came from Ballyhasty^[2] in Tipperary. Dorothy grew up in an eight roomed house with eight front windows^[3]. Her parents were both British and Church of Ireland. The family were quite well off and kept a servant, Elizabeth Miller.

She spent a lot of her young life travelling upon her father's ships^[4]. He was only allowed bring one female companion with him on voyages so he would cut Dorothy's hair short and dress her as a boy and therefore bring his wife and daughter. This was how she got the nickname "Tommy" which stuck throughout her whole life.

Her family kept horses in a stable near house, that were used to lead the coach. This is where Dorothy first fell in love with horse riding. The family also had a turf house and a dairy^[5].

Education and Occupations

She trained in Ling College in Dublin in physical education. She was excellent at sports and played lacrosse and squash for Ireland. Her favourites were diving and fencing.

After college, Dorothy was Games Mistress at the all girls private school Alexandra College in Dublin, from 1943 to 1958. She once led a campaign to have a playground in every school in Ireland. She wanted all the girls to be physically active and encouraged the school to let them go swimming.

She was also a secretary of the Dublin Wine Society.

The Olympics

Dorothy was offered to compete in the 1948 Olympic games held in London in the diving tournament. However shortly before hand she requested to be entered into the fencing competition instead. She did not go past the opening round after losing all of her bouts.

Later life and Death

She died in 2012 at Killiney Grove Nursing Home at the age of 103^[6]. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Certificate of Dorothy Dermody. Available: (https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1909/01611/1646514.pdf). Accessed 12th Jan 2020.
2. ↑ Ireland,Census 1911 for Ballyhasty. Available: (http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Tipperary/Cloughjordan/Ballyhasty/836918/). Accessed 12th Jan 2020.
3. ↑ Census House and Building Return. Available: (http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai003362674/). Accessed 12th Jan 2020.
4. ↑ https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/de/dorothy-dermody-1.html
5. ↑ Return of Outhouses and Farm Steadings. Available: (http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai003362676/). Accessed 12th Jan 2020.
6. ↑ https://www.rip.ie/death-notice/dorothy-mccormack-dalkey-dublin/161125
7. ↑ https://notices.irishtimes.com/death/mccormack-dorothy/15897088

See also:

• http://www.olympics.ie/sports/fencing/4803-dorothy-dermody-rip.html

• https://m.independent.ie/lifestyle/blades-of-glory-for-dorothy-26840853.html

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Dermody