Draft:Joseph Patrick Thuillier

Joseph Patrick Thuillier (pronounced twe-lee-ay in France.[1] and either "thu-lee-ay" or "thu-lee-ur" in Ireland) (born 5 March 1950) is an Irish teacher and classicist.[1][2] He was the Head of Classics and Head of Debating in Belvedere College SJ from 1982 – 2006.

Early Years

Thuillier was the third child of Joseph Thuillier (1910 – 2002), one of three brothers who ran fashionable hair salons in Dublin City from the late 1930s until 1988[3]. His mother, Una, née Cullen[4] (1926 – 2011), was the daughter of William Cullen, a merchant and lesser known associate of Michael Collins during the War of Independence.

Thuillier grew up in relative comfort on Griffith Avenue on the north side of the city.

Thuillier was the third generation of his family to be born in Dublin, and the third generation to bear the name Joseph[5]. He is the nephew of fencer and broadcaster Harry Thuillier Snr, who appeared on the first Late Late Show,[6] and the cousin of photographer Harry Thuillier Jnr. His father obliged him to add “Junior” to his name even when he attended university.

Thuillier attended Maryfield College on Griffith Avenue and, from 1958 – 1968, Belvedere College SJ, where he became a member of the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The pupils of Belvedere College SJ were, at that point, streamed into three separate classes: 1A were classed as the most intelligent, and studied Latin and Greek; 1B were fair, and studied Latin but not Greek; and 2 was reserved those of less obvious academic ability, who were required to learn neither Latin nor Greek and many of whom were earmarked to inherit family businesses. Thuillier was streamed into 1B.

Impressed by addresses given by missionary priests, and inspired in part by the derring-do of Saint Francis Xavier, Thuillier considered joining the Jesuits but, influenced by his admiration for his English teacher, John Daly[7] (1929 – 2022) decided on a teaching career.

University

Thuillier attended University College Dublin between 1968 and 1971, first at Earlsfort Terrace and then at Belfield, where he befriended, among others, Éamonn Lawlor, Felix M. Larkin, and Paul Taylor, the author of an unpublished novel dramatizing episodes in the life of Joseph Conrad. Thuillier was interested in debating at the time, but was put off by the ferocity of UCD’s L&H, and he left it to fellow Belvederian Adrian Hardiman to win renown in that regard. Thuillier opted instead to compete in public speaking competitions, where the speaker was, mercifully, not interrupted during the course of a speech. Thuillier never debated against Hardiman but did later invite him to debate in "Past versus Present" debates in Belvedere[8], invitations which Hardiman usually accepted.

Thuillier was taught, and somewhat intimidated by, Seamus Deane, whose lectures he preferred to skip when he could. Thuillier would later joke that his reading matter prior to entry to university was “more Biggles than Ulysses”.

Upon graduation, Thuillier was not admitted to UCD’s M.Litt programme in English literature and for a period of eight months read his way through the history of the English novel at home. Lifelong literary preferences were Henry James and Joseph Conrad.

Sojourn in Africa

Thuillier left Ireland for Zambia in 1973, spending three years teaching at a Christian Brothers secondary school in Mazabuka. Thuillier noted a preference for GAA, beer and a narrow interpretation of Irish patriotism on the part of the Brothers, which clashed with his own taste for rugby, wine and a more internationalist outlook. On a visit to Rhodesia he had his clothes stolen while sunbathing in his underwear, and nearly drowned in Lake Kariba, only to be saved by a South African white supremacist with whom Thuillier had, the previous night, had a heated argument about apartheid. Thuillier was a lifelong admirer of the work of Sidney Poitier.

Thuillier returned to Dublin in 1977, but was uninjured in the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. He obtained a teaching position in Arklow (1977 – 1979). Thuillier did make inquiries at the Iranian consulate in relation to teaching roles in the Republic of Iran, but his enquiries were not responded to and he therefore avoided the dangers of the Iranian Revolution.

Career

Thuillier taught Latin and French in Belvedere College SJ from 1979 – 2015[9]. He was known for his formal dress, including the continued wearing of the gown, as well as his cheerful calls of the Latin greeting “salve” as he passed pupils in the corridors. Thuillier had a strong pastoral impetus, and acted as form teacher and year head. His views were sought by national newspapers on Junior and Senior Cycle exam papers throughout the 1990s, and he could be critical of exam papers which he thought were too hard[10]

He eschewed the wearing of corduroy and wool ties in the 1980s - though he did, somewhat daringly for the time, adopt a version of the Russian Cossack hat as his headwear of choice until the end of the Cold War - and never wore slacks or jeans in the 1990s.

Thuillier was a notably good-humoured man and won the nickname, while on a French school exchange programme in St. Etienne, of “Joe, Joe le rigolo”.  

Thuillier was one of three teachers - together with his friend Gerry Haugh[11] and Brian O'Connell[12] - in Belvedere to continue to wear a gown each day, a custom that had almost died when he began his teaching career. The wearing of the gown was seen as something of an eccentricity, but won him fresh affection from the student population after the success of the Harry Potter franchise.

In the 1980s Thuillier was asked to teach a course on “marriage and sexuality” and did so for three years. His approach was notably frank, and there was an emphasis on not only pleasure, but sometimes mutuality. Thuillier held traditional views on masculinity, with role models including Cary Grant, Tony Curtis, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Kirk Douglas and Sean Connery.

It was perhaps in his role as Head of Debating that he made one of his most significant contributions to the life of the school. Thuillier devoted three nights a week to each of the school’s three debating societies – Syntax, Poetry and Rhetoric – every week of the school year from 1981 – 2006. He dressed in a tuxedo for each debate and acted as MC. The 1980s was the heyday of these societies, when debate could be raucous and pupils assembled at Barry’s Hotel afterwards for pints.

Catholicism

Thuillier is an active Mass-goer and moral supporter of the Society of Jesus. He received the accession of Jesuit Jorge Bergoglio to the papacy warmly.

Thuillier has often espoused an unorthodox view of Heaven. He has suggested that, for him, it means endless glasses of red wine while reading The Irish Times. Thuillier has not given up anything for Lent since childhood.

He was known, in the 1990s, to suggest that inquiries into the nature of faith and religion – as opposed to simple acceptance of established doctrines – was a fruitless activity and one which had “driven some of the best minds mad” [citation needed].

In later life, Thuillier abandoned the strict Catholic line on same sex marriage and voted ‘yes’ in the Marriage Equality referendum.

Thuillier believes that Jesus “loves” him, and that he will be “saved”.

Thuillier has donated to the Simon Community since 1991 and occasionally buys sandwiches for the indigent.

Politics

Thuillier lived almost his entire adult life in Drumcondra but never voted for Bertie Ahern and never drank in Fagan’s. Thuillier’s political heroes are Franklin D. Roosevelt and Sean Lemass.

Politically, Thuillier has a strong centrist bent. He loathed Charles J Haughey, Margaret Thatcher and disliked Ronald Reagan who, Thuillier accepted, had a lovely speaking voice and excellent delivery.

Personal life

Thuillier is married and has three sons.

He met Mary Daly in Sardi’s in 1977 and they married in 1979. Mary Thuillier’s father was said to be the model on which John McGahern based, in part, the character of “Moran”, in Amongst Women.

Thuillier frequently referred to himself in the 1980s – 1990s as “a nineteenth century man”, and refused to own a mobile phone or learn to use email until the 2010s. He was known to his friends as a prolific sender of postcards until he embraced text messaging.

Thuillier considered Samuel Beckett “a fraud” and once fell asleep during a now classic performance of Waiting for Godot in Dublin’s Gate Theatre in September 1988. It was Beckett's perceived despair which Thuillier found disagreeable.

Thuillier is known to place a strong emphasis on family and friends and was described by broadcaster Eamonn Lawlor as “one of the last of the great lunchers”. Thuillier was a regular patron of Dublin institution Nico’s[13] until it closed in 2018. Thuillier is known to frequent Roly’s, La Maison and the Alliance Française. He invariably asks the serving staff to pass his compliments on to the chef and is known for his generous tips.

References

  1. ^ Team, Forvo. "Thuillier pronunciation: How to pronounce Thuillier in French". Forvo.com. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  2. ^ "A lengthy journey from Athens to Rome". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  3. ^ "Joe Thuillier (right) Paris, 1920s". Photo Album of the Irish. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  4. ^ "Joe Thuillier (right) Paris, 1920s". Photo Album of the Irish. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  5. ^ "Joseph Thuillier (Ian's grandfather), fourth from the right. He worked as a Customs Officer at North Wall, Dublin, 1942". Photo Album of the Irish. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  6. ^ "The Stunning". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  7. ^ "Death Notice of John Daly (Blackrock, Dublin) | rip.ie". rip.ie. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  8. ^ "Junior And Senior College Debating". Belvedere College S.J. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  9. ^ "On sandals and scandals". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  10. ^ "A lengthy journey from Athens to Rome". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  11. ^ "Belvedere teacher nurtured love of arts". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  12. ^ "Death Notice of Brian O'Connell (Raheny, Dublin) | rip.ie". rip.ie. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  13. ^ "Dublin institution Nico's to close after more than 50 years". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
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