James Joyce Tower and Museum facts for kids
The James Joyce Tower and Museum is a famous old tower in Sandycove, Dublin, Ireland. It's a special place because the famous Irish writer James Joyce once stayed there. The tower is also where the very first scenes of his well-known book, Ulysses, take place. Many fans of James Joyce visit this tower, especially on Bloomsday, which is a day celebrating his work. You can visit the museum for free!
| Túr agus Músaem Shéamuis Seoige | |
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| Established | 16 June 1962 |
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| Location | Sandycove Point, Sandycove, Dublin, Ireland |
| Type | Martello tower, literary museum |
| Public transit access | Sandycove Road bus stop (Dublin Bus 59, 111) Sandycove and Glasthule railway station |
History of the Tower
This tower is a type of small fort called a Martello tower. It was rented by James Joyce's university friend, Oliver St. John Gogarty. Gogarty wanted to use the tower to make Ireland more like ancient Greece.
Joyce stayed in the tower for six nights in September 1904. Gogarty later said that Joyce left suddenly after a surprising incident with a loaded revolver late one night.
The Tower in Ulysses
The first scenes of Joyce's famous novel, Ulysses, happen the morning after this incident. In the book, Oliver St. John Gogarty is shown as the character "Stately, plump Buck Mulligan". These are the very first words of the novel.
Today, the tower is a museum dedicated to James Joyce. It shows some of his personal items. You can also see other things connected to Ulysses. For example, there is a "Plumtree's Potted Meat" pot. The living area inside the tower looks like it did in 1904. It even has a ceramic panther to represent one seen in a dream by someone who lived there.
Becoming a Museum
In 1954, an architect named Michael Scott bought the tower. He had built his own house, Geragh, right next door in 1937. In 1962, he gave the tower away so it could become a museum. Michael Scott, with help from John Huston, helped create the James Joyce Museum at the tower.
The James Joyce Tower officially opened as a museum on June 16, 1962. This was thanks to the hard work of Dublin artist John Ryan. Ryan also saved the front door of 7 Eccles Street from being destroyed. This door is now at the James Joyce Centre. He also helped organize the very first Bloomsday Celebration in 1954.
The James Joyce Tower is open from Thursday to Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission is free for everyone. However, you can book your visit online in advance for a small donation. The Friends of Joyce Tower Society runs the museum. They are a group of volunteers who help keep it open.
See also
In Spanish: Torre de James Joyce para niños
- Forty Foot, a popular place for sea swimming, located very close to the tower.
Images for kids
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Barry McGovern reads Ulysses, Bloomsday, 2009
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North view from above the tower, 2009
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Living area in the tower, 2019
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View of Sandycove, Michael Scott's 1937 white Art Deco house Geragh, and the Joyce Tower
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