James Joyce Tower and Museum

The James Joyce Tower and Museum is a Martello tower in Sandycove, Dublin, where James Joyce spent six nights in 1904. The opening scenes of his 1922 novel Ulysses take place here,
and the tower is a place of pilgrimage for Joyce enthusiasts, especially on Bloomsday. Admission is free.

History

The tower was leased from the War Office by Joyce's university friend Oliver St. [John Gogarty], with the purpose of "Hellenising" Ireland. Joyce stayed there for six days, from 9 to 14 September in 1904. Gogarty later attributed Joyce's abrupt departure to a midnight incident with a loaded revolver.
The opening scenes of Ulysses are set the morning after this incident. Gogarty is immortalised as "Stately, plump Buck Mulligan".
The tower now contains a museum dedicated to Joyce and displays some of his possessions and other ephemera associated with Ulysses. The living space is set up to resemble its 1904 appearance, and contains a ceramic panther to represent one seen in a dream by a resident.
It was purchased in 1954 by architect Michael Scott who had built his house, Geragh next door in 1937 on a former quarry. In 1962, he donated the tower for the purpose of making it a museum. Michael Scott is co-founder, with financial assistance by John Huston, of the James Joyce Museum at the Joyce Tower.
The Tower became a museum opening on 16 June 1962 through the efforts of Dublin artist John Ryan. Ryan also rescued the front door to 7 [Eccles Street] from demolition and organised, with Brian O'Nolan, the first Bloomsday Celebration in 1954.
The James Joyce Tower is open Thursday-Sunday, 10am-4pm Admission is free, though visits can be booked in advance on the website for a small donation. The museum is run by the Friends of Joyce Tower Society on a voluntary basis.