My Love Affair With Dublin: Literary Walk of Dublin

Sweny Chemist- Main character in "Ulysses" would go here to buy lemon soap.

Merrion Square- memorial to soldiers.

Memorial to soldiers

Merrion Square- Oscar Wilde!

Oscar Wilde hanging out.

Merrion Square

St Stephen's Church

Corner where James Joyce was stood up for a date by his future wife. I would never do that to him!

House where Oscar Wilded lived. Right across from Merrion Square.

Writer AE Russell worked here- Merrion Square

WB Yeats lived here- Merrion Square

James Joyce lived here! Merrion Square

Georgian House. Museum now where you can learn about the architecture of the Georgian time.

Brendan Brehan lived here during the 1950's.

Interesting statue

Canal

Elizabeth Bowen lived here- Herbert Place

Flann O'Brien lived here- Herbert Place

Canal

Canal

WB Yeats lived here- Fitzwilliam Square

Fitzwilliam Square

United Arts Club in which Yeats started- Fitzwilliam Square

Toner Pub. Only bar Yeats had a drink in Dublin.

Toner's Pub

Olive St John Gogany lived here

Oscar Wilde proposed to a girl here.

Huguenot cemetery

Bram Stoker lived here- Kildare St

Whitefariar Street Carmelite Church

Thomas Moore birthplace

Baily's Pub. Frequented by famous Irish authors, including Joyce.

Bryns. Place of famous scene in "Ulysses".

The Duke. Frequented by famous writers like Joyce.

Shop that has rare editions of books.

Anyone who truly knows me knows how much I love reading! Many times I believe that I was born in the wrong time period. I should have been born in a time period where writing was actually valued. Today, people are more concerned with meaningless things and the quality of writing has fallen.

One of the reasons that I think writing is so important is because it can tell you a lot about people and different cultures. For example, what I know about London during the 1700's comes from Charles Dickinson. No history books.

In one of the travel books I have for Dublin has a self guided walking tour of the literary section of Dublin. Of course I had to do it!

The book claims that it will only take you 90 minutes. Don't believe it. It took me close to 3 hours! Granted, I was taking my time walking and did get lost along the way.

I had a great time on the tour. I learned a lot and got to see parts of town that I hadn't seen before. I love the fact that it seems most of the writers lived in the same area. I believe that is true for most cities. Most cities have their cultural centers.

The pictures pretty much show what I saw, obviously. But I am just going to include additional information about the writers that are mentioned.

James Joyce- 1882-1941. He was a novelist and a poet. He was born to a middle class family in Dublin. Joyce went to college at the University College Dublin. This is interesting, because my job has a center at that school! When he was older, he moved to France. "Ulysses" is arguably his best wok, in which he perfects the stream of consciousness technique. Other works include "Dubliners", "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man". Almost all his work takes place in Dublin.

Oscar Wilde- 1854-1900. Irish writer and poet. He was born in Dublin to intellectual parents. He went to school in Dublin and was trained to be a classicist. Not only was he a writer, but he also studied philosophy. After school he moved to London, where he published a book of poetry and lectured on various topics. Wilde even tried his hand at being a journalist for some time. He was a playwriter, but just when he was getting popular, he was convicted of gross indecency with other men and sentenced to two years in prison and hard labor. After his released, he fled to France, where he died and is buried. He is most remembered for his wit and his flamboyant dress.

WB Yeats- 1865-1939. Irish poet and playwright. Main force behind the Irish Literary Revial. Founded Abby Theater. In 1923, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Early in life he was influenced by Irish legends and the occult. As he grew, he became interested with physical and spiritual masks and the cyclical theories of life.

AE Russell- 1814-1873. Gothic tales and mystery novels. Premier ghost story writer of the 19th century. Had an influence on the development of the Victorian era writing.

Oliver St. John Gogarty- 1878-1957. Served as inspiration for Buck Mulligan in "Ulysses". Was also trained to be a surgeon, but during his twenties and thirties devoted more time to writing. He also served on the Senate.

Bram Stoker- 1847-1912. Irish novelist and short story writer. Most famous work is "Dracula". Worked in Dublin Castle for a little bit. He was also a personal assistant to actor Henry Irving and was the business manager of the Lyceum Theater in London. Stoker was born in Dublin and was raised Protestant. What is interesting about this is that he was a firm believer in Home Rule for Ireland. Home Rule being the belief that Ireland should govern themselves and not England. Usually Catholics supported Home Rule and Protestants supported England.

Gerard Manley Hopkins- 1844-1889. English poet, Roman Catholic convert and Jesuit priest. Leading Victorian poet. He was born and raised in England. He studied many types of art, including writing and sketching. Later, Hopkins went to Oxford to study. After his studies at Oxford, which he graduated with top honors, he went into the priesthood. in 1884, he became the professor of Greek literature at University College Dublin.

Thomas Moore- 1779-1852. Poet, singer, songwriter and entertainer. Born in Dublin. He went to school in Dublin and in his early years, learned to talk with an English accent that he was never able to get rid of after. He studied at Trinity College to be a lawyer. Moore later moved to London and wrote various songs. He is considered Ireland's National Bard.

Patrick Kavanagh- 1904-1967. Irish poet and novelist. Work can be desribed as accounts of Irish life. After school Kavanagh went into the shoemaking business like his father. He did not graduate college; he left school after 6th grade. He was a goalkeeper for an Gaelic football team.