Martello Tower

  • Ep. 121 – Tales From the Tower Live (w/ Vivien Veale Igoe, Robert Nicholson, & Breandan O’Broin)

    Kelly talks with former James Joyce Tower & Museum curators Vivien Veale Igoe and Robert Nicholson, and editor Breandan O’Broin about their experience curating the tower, how Dublin’s relationship with Joyce has changed over the years, and their new book, Tales from the Tower. Tales from the Tower  will be available to purchase November 1,…

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  • Ep. 90 – Bloomsday 2022

    Dermot and Kelly take to the streets of Dublin on Bloomsday 2022 with the goal to talk to as many people celebrating the occasion as possible. They talk to revelers at the Sandycove Martello Tower, Kennedy’s Pub in Lincoln Place, outside Sweny’s Pharmacy, and on Duke St. in the general vicinity of Davy Byrne’s. Many,…

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  • Ep. 32 – James Joyce Tower & Museum

    Dermot and Kelly get an insider’s view of the Sandycove Martello Tower – the Omphalos of Dublin itself! Maggie Fitzgerald, James Holohan and Andrew Basquille give Blooms & Barnacles a tour of all the museum’s nooks and crannies. Discussions include the Joycean historical items on display in the museum, the history of the tower, what…

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  • Decoding Dedalus: A Dedalus Never Pays His Debts

    —I will tell you, he said solemnly, what is his proudest boast. I paid my way. … I never borrowed a shilling in my life. Can you feel that? I owe nothing. Can you? This is a post in a series called Decoding Dedalus where I take a paragraph of Ulysses and  break it down…

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  • Ulysses & The Odyssey: Telemachus

    I am now writing a book based on the wanderings of Ulysses. ‘The Odyssey,’ that is to say, serves me as a ground plan. Only my time is recent and all my hero’s wanderings take no more than 18 hours. – James Joyce, 1918 For a discussion of this topic, check out our podcast episode…

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  • Who Was the Real Haines?

    “God, isn’t he dreadful? he said frankly. A ponderous Saxon. He thinks you’re not a gentleman. God, these bloody English! Bursting with money and indigestion. Because he comes from Oxford. You know, Dedalus, you have the real Oxford manner. He can’t make you out.” To listen to a discussion of this topic, check out the…

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  • Say ‘Hello’ to Martello Towers

    –Rather bleak in wintertime, I should say. Martello you call it? — Billy Pitt had them built, Buck Mulligan said, when the French were on the sea. But ours is the omphalos. To listen to a discussion of this topic, check out the podcast episode here.  Ulysses opens with a scene familiar to anyone who…

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