Saturday, August 20, 2016, was my sixth day in Dublin. I couldn’t wait to get started on my adventure today! We took the DART to Sandycove, about a 15-minute ride or so. From the station, we made our way along the waterfront and walked to the James Joyce Tower. Some history about the tower: James Joyce stayed here for a short time, and it is the location where Chapter 1, Telemachus, in James Joyce’s Ulysses begins. The Tower has so many James Joyce artifacts and displays. If you are a fan of literature, the James Joyce Tower is worth checking out.
If you click on one of the pictures below, it will turn into a gallery which you might find easier to view.
This James Joyce tree greeted us as we made our way towards the waterfront en route to the Tower in Sandycove.
From the waterfront, looking north to Dun Laoghaire.
Monument to James Joyce along the waterfront.
Looking at Dun Laoghaire again.
Getting closer!
The water was so blue and inviting.
There were many people swimming. The water is cold, and the air was in the 60’s. People didn’t mind!
Sign at the “Forty Foot.”
Women were not allowed to swim at Forty Foot, but that changed in the 1970’s.
The Forty Foot
Open now! Admission free!
Me outside the James Joyce Tower
About the Joyce Tower
Flag flying on top of the Tower. It is the flag from the province Munster, where James Joyce’s father came from.
From the top.
From the top, looking back along the route we walked. Look at that water.
The tower is a “Martello” Tower. These were built during the 19th century all along the Irish coast to keep a watch out for invaders during the French Revolutionary War. A canon used to be on these tracks.
James Joyce’s Guitar
James Joyce’s Truck
What might have been on the table when James Joyce stayed here in 1904.
The “black panther,” referenced by Stephen Dedalus in Ulysses. Legend says that when Joyce stayed here, a roommate had a dream about a panther coming out of the fireplace. The roommate supposedly shot a real gun into the fireplace, and that’s what made Joyce leave the Tower for good.
How the room might have looked in 1904.
How the room might have looked in 1904.
James Joyce’s drawing of Leopold Bloom.
Postcard from Joyce to a friend.
Postcard from Joyce to a friend.
One of the framed pieces of art featuring the famous Joyce quote, “Yes.”
When Joyce died in 1941, sculptor Paul Speck made two plaster death masks of Joyce’s face. This is one of them.
James Joyce Biography
Leaving the tower, this was the view. Stunning!
Looking down as we left the tower.
The James Joyce Tower when we left. Amazing visit.
It was amazing to be in the same spot as James Joyce. My footprints walked in his footprints, and also walked in those of Stephen Dedalus and Buck Mulligan. If you would like to learn more about the locations mentioned in today’s post, please visit these links:
*** All photographs that are a part of this gallery were taken by me, Jill Ocone, on August 20, 2016 and are copyrighted. It is illegal to reproduce or to take credit for my intellectual property contained on this post. Thank you for your compliance.
