008.1 - Our Martello Tower

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Now that we’ve settled into the scene, we learn something crucial: the three men are staying in a Martello tower. But what exactly is a Martello tower? (There is many)

A Brief History of the Martello Tower

The origins of these towers trace back to Giovan Giacomo Paleari Fratino, a military engineer who served in both the French and Spanish armies during the 16th century. In 1558, after being captured by the Spanish, he was stationed on the island of Corsica, where he worked on fortifying the coastline. Before leaving, he designed a circular stone tower at Mortella Point, a strategic location meant to guard the entrance to the gulf.

This tower, built around 1564, was revolutionary. Unlike the traditional square-shaped forts, it was cylindrical, standing three stories tall with a rooftop gun platform—a design that allowed for an unobstructed 360-degree view of approaching enemies. (Ah! So that’s what Buck Mulligan was leaning on!) This innovation would reshape coastal defenses for centuries to come.

The structure, originally called Torra di Mortella, proved its strength in 1794 when British warships attacked it off the Corsican coast. Despite being outgunned 100 to 3, the tower withstood two full days of bombardment before finally falling. But the British, impressed by its resilience, adopted the design and began constructing similar towers along their own vulnerable coastlines.

Over time, the name “Mortella” was Anglicized into “Martello,” and these towers began appearing worldwide. In response to the threat of a Napoleonic invasion, Britain constructed 74 Martello towers in 1803 to fortify the coast. A concentration of 15 towers was placed between Dublin and Bray. These towers were officially demilitarized in 1867, except for three, including the Sandycove tower, which remained active for some time.

Our tower was constructed to be approximately 40 feet high, with walls eight feet thick, made of brick. It had a single entrance that stood ten feet off the ground. During military use, access was only granted via an iron or rope ladder, which could be pulled up to prevent entry.

Pinpointing Our Tower

So far, we know the characters are in one of Ireland’s many Martello towers and that they are near Dublin. But as we piece together the details, another name emerges: Sandycove. A bit of research confirms that there is a Martello tower in Sandycove.

And here’s where reality and fiction intertwine:

This Sandycove Martello Tower is now known as the James Joyce Tower. Records show that Joyce himself stayed here for six days in 1904, hosted by his friend Oliver St. John Gogarty—the real-life inspiration for Buck Mulligan.

Features of the Tower:

• Before Joyce’s stay in 1904, a set of stairs was added to the entrance.

• Only one key was furnished to those staying in the tower.

• Upon entry, the living quarters consisted of a round room with a fireplace. This fireplace was lit by two apertures, which Joyce referred to as “barbicans” in Ulysses.

• A staircase along the wall led downward to a storage room that once held gunpowder. To prevent accidental ignition, a special copper key was required to unlock this space.

• The same staircase also led upward to the top stone deck, where a swiveling gun rest was mounted—the very spot where Buck Mulligan leans in the opening of Ulysses.

• The tower provides one of the best views of the Irish coast and of Scotsman’s Bay.

Joyce and Gogarty: Fact vs. Fiction

If you recall, Buck Mulligan is modeled after Oliver St. John Gogarty, a real person with whom Joyce was acquainted. Gogarty, like Buck, was one of the wittiest men of his time and kept a documented record of their stay together in the tower. While he acknowledged Joyce’s “fictional improvements” in Ulysses, Gogarty insisted on setting the record straight—for instance, when Joyce (as Stephen) pays the rent in the novel, Gogarty (as Buck) maintained that he had actually covered the cost.

Already, we see how Joyce pulls from his own life, embedding personal experiences into Ulysses. As you can tell, Joyce was meticulous in his representation of Ireland, capturing it stone by stone. Though we haven’t yet fully zoomed in on the location, the pieces are falling into place.

References:

Joyce Tower & Museum. “Martello Tower.” Joyce Tower & Museum, https://joycetower.ie/our-stories/martello-tower/#:~:text=Over%20100%20Martello%20towers%20were,to%20Balbriggan%20on%20the%20Northside. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

“Martello Tower.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/technology/Martello-tower. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

“Giovan Giacomo Paleari Fratino.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovan_Giacomo_Paleari_Fratino. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

Martello Towers. “Martello Tower Map.” Martello Towers, https://martellotowers.com/martello-tower-map/. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

Allman, Richard. James Joyce’s Tower: Sandycove, Co. Dublin. Hely Thom Limired, Dublin, 1969.