There’s a quite a number of historic spots around the city that fall between the ‘this really deserves a plaque’ and ‘let’s keep it our little secret’ categories. Obviously no one wants a city where every building is covered with two or three plaques. This, of course, would only belittle the importance of the plaques. On the other hand, there’s lots of alluring stories, kept alive by walking tour guides and Dublin pub quizzes, which should be given the importance that they deserve.
One of the best, in my mind, is the old Finn’s Hotel building on Leinster Street, the eastern extension of Nassau Street. Small (with only twelve rooms) and shabby but respectable and central, Finn’s occupied the first two of the row of red brick eighteenth century houses that forms part of the wall around Trinity College. [1]
Front of the old Finn's Hotel
On the afternoon of the 10th of June 1904, James Joyce first laid eyes on his future wife Nora Barnacle as she stepped out of Finn’s Hotel where she worked as a chamber maid.
This single event changed the course of Joyce’s life.
They had their first date six days later and he cast the action of Ulysses on that day, 16 June. As such, Bloomsday is always celebrated on this date.
A ghost sign for Finn's Hotel
So, there you go. Impress with your friends next time you pass the Hotel with that anecdote.
Do you know of any another important Dublin tales that aren’t remembered by plaques?
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[1] Brenda Maddox, Nora: The Real Life of Molly Bloom (New York, 1988), p. 24.
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
[…] this scene unfold, I instinctively thought of James and Nora Joyce. Did he ever venture inside Finn’s Hotel, having arranged to meet her there…perhaps in the hallway, behind the curve of the stairs? Did […]
[…] 1. Starting with my name’s sake – The great (now late) Finn’s hotel Nassau Street. James Joyce met Nora Barnacle outside this establishment. […]
[…] Finn’s Hotel is where I ducked in during an unusual heatwave. It was a million degrees out and the poor pale Dubliners were so overjoyed with the sun that they were all bright red from exposure by tea time. So I accidentally had a ham and cheese sandwich at the exact spot where James Joyce met his wife Nora who was a chamber maid there! […]
My uncle John Hanrahan,worked for Mr Finn at his hotel from 1913 ,after leaving Artaine Industrial School,I wonder if he saw any of the famous people of that time ?
To be pedantic, Finn’s hotel is a the junction of south Leinster street and Lincoln place. Nassau street ends at the junction with Kildare street. Finn’s is now part of the offices of the Dublin Dental University Hospital.
The signage is crap hence the need to be pedantic.