Nora Barnacle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nora Barnacle
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Nora Barnacle Joyce, c. 1926 in this cropped photograph by Berenice Abbott
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| Born | 21 March 1884 Galway, County Galway, Ireland
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| Died | 10 April 1951 (aged 67) Zürich, Switzerland
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| Children | 2, including Lucia Joyce |
Nora Barnacle (born March 21, 1884 – died April 10, 1951) was the wife and inspiration for the famous Irish writer James Joyce. Nora and James had their first date in 1904. This date is now celebrated every year as "Bloomsday." It is named after Joyce's well-known novel, Ulysses. Interestingly, Nora herself did not enjoy reading the novel.
Nora Barnacle and James Joyce's life together has been a topic of great interest. A play called Nora Barnacle was written in 1980 by Maureen Charlton about their relationship. In 1988, a book about Nora's life was published. It was called Nora: A Biography of Nora Joyce by Brenda Maddox. This book was later made into an Irish film in 2000. The film, also called Nora, was directed by Pat Murphy. It starred Susan Lynch as Nora and Ewan McGregor as James Joyce.
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Early Life of Nora Barnacle
Nora Barnacle was born in a Galway workhouse on March 21, 1884. Her birth record shows her first name as "Norah." Her father, Thomas Barnacle, was a baker from Connemara. Her mother, Annie Honoria Healy, worked as a dressmaker. The name Barnacle comes from an old Irish word meaning "wild goose." Some families changed their name to Barnacle because of this.
Between 1886 and 1889, Nora lived with her grandmother, Catherine Mortimer Healy. During this time, she started school at a convent. She finished her schooling in 1891. By 1896, Nora had completed her education. She began working as a porteress and laundress. In the same year, her parents separated. Nora then moved to live with her mother and her uncle, Tom Healy. Their house at 4 Bowling Green, Galway, is now a small museum about Nora.
When Nora was 12, she had a close friendship with a teenager named Michael Feeney. Sadly, he died soon after from illness. Later, in 1900, another boy she cared for, Michael Bodkin, also passed away. These events were later mentioned by James Joyce in his short story "The Dead" from Dubliners. In 1903, Nora left Galway. She moved to Dublin and worked as a chambermaid at Finn's Hotel. This hotel's name was later used for a collection of short stories by Joyce, Finn's Hotel.
Nora's Relationship with James Joyce
Nora met James Joyce in Dublin on June 10, 1904. Their first romantic meeting happened on June 16. James Joyce later chose June 16, 1904, as the day for his novel Ulysses to take place. This date is now celebrated worldwide as Bloomsday. Their first meeting started a long relationship. They eventually married in 1931 and stayed together until Joyce's death.
Nora and James had very different personalities. They also had different tastes and interests. Nora remembered their first meeting, saying she thought he was a Swedish sailor. She noticed his blue eyes and cap. But when he spoke, she knew he was just another Dublin boy. Joyce seemed to admire and trust Nora. Nora clearly loved Joyce and trusted him enough to leave Ireland with him. She even started learning French before they moved to Paris.
In 1904, Nora and James left Ireland for Europe. The next year, they settled in Trieste. On June 27, 1905, Nora gave birth to their son, Giorgio. Later, their daughter, Lucia, was born on July 26, 1907. Even though they were legally married in London in 1931, Nora sometimes complained about Joyce. She wrote to her sister that his writings were confusing and hard to understand.
Nora was always very proud of James. However, she sometimes wished he had become a musician instead of a writer. When he was young, James was a talented singer. Lucia's serious illness in the early 1930s was a big challenge for the couple. Nora believed Lucia needed to be in a hospital. James, however, did not agree. They saw many doctors, and Lucia was cared for by Carl Jung for a time. She was admitted to a clinic in 1936. Her father visited her often, but Nora did not.
Later Life and Death
After James Joyce passed away in Zurich in 1941, Nora decided to stay there. She died in Zurich in 1951 at the age of 67. She was buried next to her husband at Fluntern Cemetery. Their son Giorgio was buried with them in 1976.
Nora Barnacle's Legacy
In 1980, a play called Nora Barnacle by Maureen Charlton was first performed. It showed the lives of Nora and James Joyce. The Washington Post newspaper praised the play highly.
In 1988, a book about Nora Barnacle was written by Brenda Maddox. It was titled Nora: A Biography of Nora Joyce. This book was later made into a film in 2000. The film was directed by Pat Murphy. It starred Susan Lynch and Ewan McGregor.
A novel called Nora by Nuala O'Connor was published in 2021.
Nora Barnacle House Museum: Nora's childhood home in Bowling Green, Galway, has been turned into a small museum. It is dedicated to her life and story.
Images for kids
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Nora Barnacle Joyce, c. 1926
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Paris 1924: Clockwise from top left – James Joyce, Giorgio Joyce, Nora Barnacle, Lucia Joyce
