The James Joyce Tower was one of a series of Martello towers built to withstand an invasion by Napoleon and now holds a museum devoted to the life and works of James Joyce, who made the tower the setting for the first chapter of his masterpiece, Ulysses.

Beautifully located eight miles south of Dublin on the coast road, this tower is the perfect setting for a museum dedicated to Joyce, a writer of international renown who remains, world-wide, the writer most associated with Dublin.

Joyce's brief stay here inspired the opening of his great novel Ulysses. The gun platform with its panoramic view, and the living room inside the tower are much as he described them in his book.

The museum's collection includes letters, photographs, first and rare editions and personal possessions of Joyce, as well as items associated with the Dublin of Ulysses.

How to Get There:
8 miles south of Dublin city centre, on the coast. DART to Sandycove Station. Bus 59 from Dun Laoghaire, 7 & 7A from Dublin city centre to Glenageary Road Lower - near the corner with Georges St., Dun Laoghaire(walk past Sandycove DART station, turn left to seafront and right towards the Joyce Tower: about 15 minutes' walk).

By car:
Start at the Daniel O’Connell monument on O’Connell Street, turn right onto O’Connell Bridge – N11. Continue straight onto Leinster Street South – R118. At junction 52 continue straight on to Northumberland Road – R118. Go straight through the traffic lights onto Rock Road – N31. Turn left at traffic lights onto Newtown Park Avenue – N31 (signpost for Dun Laoghaire here). Bear left onto Seapoint Avenue at traffic lights – N31. Go straight through traffic lights onto Crofton Road – N31 (signpost for town centre here). Turn left at traffic lights onto Harbour Road (signpost for the Ferry here). At the roundabout take the third exit onto the R119. Go left at the traffic lights onto Royal Marine Road – R119. Go left at the traffic lights onto Sandycove Avenue West. Bear right onto Sandycove Avenue North. Turn left onto Sandycove Avenue East. Turn left and you have arrived at the James Joyce Museum.

We advise visitors arriving by car to park near the harbour and walk up to the James Joyce Museum.

The James Joyce Museum is included on The Dublin Pass! Find out more about the current special offers here!