Dublin Weekend Break

The Joyce Tower

The Joyce Tower is actually correctly known as the James Joyce Tower and today it is a museum to the writer and author from whom it takes its name.

The tower is about eight miles outside Dublin and was one of numerous "Martello towers" built as strongholds intended to defend against a feared invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte.

The attack did not of course materialize, but James Joyce used the tower as a backdrop to the introduction of his book Ulysses and from that point on he and the tower became forever linked.

The tower itself is hardly a structure of great beauty, but it does reflect the worrying times during which it was built. The interest though is in the contents of the museum and these include both personal affects from Joyce and a number of literary exhibits that count first editions and rare editions within their number.

Tourist tips

The countryside and aspect of the tower may this a nice excursion out of Dublin, but it is really a museum for those interested in the life and work of arguably Irelands most famous literary son.

Regular opening time are between the months of March and October with hours of 10.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 5.00pm. Times vary on public holidays and the entry charge is about 6.5 euros per adult and 4 euros per child.