“ The music passed in an instant, as the first bars of sudden music always did, over the fantastic fabrics of his mind, dissolving them painlessly and noiselessly as a sudden wave dissolves the sandbuilt turrets of children .” James Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
James Joyce possessed a fine tenor voice and before his literary career took shape, harboured serious musical ambitions. He entered singing competitions and even imagined touring coastal towns with a lute, performing ballads and sea shanties. This stroll shines a light on Dublin at the beginning of the twentieth century, using Joyce’s footsteps as a compass through the city, with songs to guide the way. See the places that shaped Joyce, including such iconic locations as Sweny’s Pharmacy and Finn’s Hotel. Hear about his artistic aspirations and creative life, and discover other literary figures who lived and worked around Merrion Square and shaped Dublin’s cultural history.
Remco Jacobs is a singer-songwriter with a deep love of literature, music, and history. Originally from the Netherlands, he lives in Wexford. He developed the Poetry Stroll guided walking tours around the life and work of James Joyce.
Meeting Point: Merrion Square Hippocampus Statue
Please be at the meeting point 10 minutes before your tour start time