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THOMAS FITZPATRICK 1860-1912.
Thomas Fitzpatrick, my paternal grandfather, was the artist, writer and publisher of an early Dublin satirical journal called 'The Lepracaun' which flourished at the turn of the century and up until his death in 1912.
He also produced a great number of cartoons and drawings for 'The New York Gaelic-American' published by John Devoy, the great Fenian leader, and for the 'Freeman's Journal' a distinguished Dublin newspaper of the times.
He was also a master illuminator and with his gifted daughter, artist Mary Fitzpatrick O'Brien, he produced many illuminated and richly decorated scrolls and paintings, many reflecting the influence of the early Celtic Revival. He died in 1912 aged 52.
About five years ago my aunt died and two of his illuminations came into my possession.
I was startled to discover so many similarities to my own art: I had never seen any of either Thomas or Mary Fitzpatricks illuminations and here I was looking at two compositions that eerily echoed my own heavily decorated Celtic art. Judge for yourself.
An friend of mine in the U.S., Morgan O'Brien, gave me the photograph of this scroll by Mary Fitzpatrick, painted in 1921, which was languishing in an outhouse in his family farm. The photo is not so good but what I found interesting was her beautifully painted Celtic knotwork border*. It remains the only work by my grandmother I have ever seen. If anyone out there has any of her or Thomas Fitzpatricks artworks or copies of same I would deeply appreciate if they could inform me or contact me. (jimfitzpatrick@eircom.net).
According to my late grandaunt, the writer James Joyce "did nixers" for my grandfather, mostly the satirical little pieces which ran in the Lepracaun and often came up with cartoon ideas for the magazine. This was probably around 1904-1910.; though Joyce was teaching English in the Berlitz School in TriesteJoyce's ideas were more local interest ( viz: "Dear, Dirty Dublin." 1908 ) and less nationalistic than my grandfathers, though both were great admirers of Parnell (Neither Parnell nor Joyce could be mentioned in our house* when I was growing up without all hell breaking loose ! )
and scathingly critical of the corrupt system of local and national government -and of course of British Imperial rule in Ireland and elsewhere.
* Joyce's old house in Millmount Avenue in Drumcondra was right beside us; just over the old footbridge across the Tolka from Woodville Road. It was demolished, quite illegally and corruptly despite being designated a historical building a few years ago by a builder with the
right political connections. Nothing was done about it. Guess why.
Where is Jimmie Joyce's sharp pen when we need it.
Note: 'Sir' Davy Stevens, one of my grandfathers favourite headtheballs, had a news-stand at Kingstown ( He sold 'The Lepracaun' there. See photo detail) and was one of the most famous characters on Dublin at the turn of the century.
He makes a couple of appearances in Joyce's 'Ulysses'.
Back to Jim Fitzpatrick's Biography
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