01. About this house

Although he did not live at this address, there are some connections between James Joyce and this building. He went to school at Belvedere College at the top of the street outside, and he and his family lived at three addresses in the neighbourhood; as a result this area of Dublin features heavily in his work. This house was built in 1784 for Valentine Browne, the Earl of Kenmare, and is decorated with plasterwork by Michael Stapleton. Kenmare used this as his town house during the winter when parliament in Dublin was in session. After Kenmare left the house it had several uses, including as a ballroom, and as a dance academy run by Professor Dennis J Maginni. Maginni was a well-known character around the city, and he turns up as a character in Joyce’s novel Ulysses. In the 1980s, when the house was threatened with demolition, the connection between Maginni and Ulysses ensured its preservation, and after extensive renovation work, the house opened as the James Joyce Centre in the 1990s. The room to your right, the Maginni Room, provides a fine example of the quality of the plasterwork and includes wall medallions depicting various dancing scenes.

Press ‘A’ to learn more about Professor Dennis J Maginni… Press ‘B’ to learn more about the plasterwork in the house… Press ‘C’ to listen to Senator David Norris discuss his role in saving the building…

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The James Joyce Center

The James Joyce Cultural Centre is situated in a stunning Georgian townhouse, offering visitors historical and biographical information about James Joyce and his influence in literature. We host walking tours, exhibitions, workshops and lectures for visitors with a casual interest and Joycean experts alike. See the door to the famous No 7 Eccles Street from “Ulysses”, a recreation of his living quarters in Paris, art exhibitions and more which bring the author and his works to life.