James O’Dempsey, publican, brewer, wine and spirit merchant, originally from Ballymoney. In 1890 he was manager and director of the Skegoniel Silver Springs Co, located on the same site on York Road as the Belfast Mineral Water Co. He was also a city councillor and Justice of the Peace. He was present at the meeting of the Town Improvement Committee in 1899 when the street was named after him. O’Dempsey Street is the next side-street off York Road after Mineral Street” (Tempan 2023, p. 121-22).
"The owners having failed to agree as to [the] name for a new street situate off York Road, it was resolved - That it be named O'Dempsey street", Town Improvement Committee: 26th July, 1899. [Editor’s note: there was a Councillor Dempsey present at the meeting].