The James Joyce Centre in Dublin City, in addition to literary and art exhibitions has interactive guides, film screenings, tours, lectures, concerts, theatre performances, public readings, academic resources, educational courses for adults and students and other activities.
The James Joyce Centre has the original door from No 7 Eccles Street, the home of Leopold and Molly Bloom in Ulysses, along with a series of stunning murals painted by Joyce's great grandnephew, Paul Joyce. The Paul Léon Collection contains furniture and appliances of Joyce's friend, Paul Léon, from 1930s Paris, some of which Joyce used while writing his novel Finnegans Wake.
The Maginni Room on the ground floor was the dance studio of Denis J. Maginni, “professor of dancing & c,” a famous Edwardian dance instructor who makes several notable appearances in Ulysses. The Kenmare Room and Old Library on the first floor are exquisite parlour rooms used for exhibitions and events. The entire house contains stunning examples of high Georgian architecture, decoration and plasterwork.
The James Joyce Centre offers walking tours year round, taking people to the shops, schools, homes, and streets that Joyce immortalised in his work, including Belvedere College, the Gresham Hotel, Hardwicke Street, O' Connell Street, Davy Byrnes, Grafton Street and the National Library.
The James Joyce Centre was founded in 1982 due to the efforts of the North Great George's Street Preservation Society and Senator David Norris. Since 1994, it has been the organiser of the Bloomsday Festival. Occurring every year around June 16th, the date on which Ulysses is set, the Bloomsday Festival is a week long celebration of Joyce's acclaimed novel and of Dublin itself. It is one of the world's most iconic and unique literary festivals. From the casual observer to serious academics and Joyce aficionados, there is something for everyone at the James Joyce Centre.
Children 12 and under are admitted for free to the James Joyce Centre. Only the ground floor is wheelchair accessible at this time.
