The James Joyce

On 5th of November 1993 at 17:59 hrs., the first pint of draught Guinness poured in the Czech Republic, was poured at the James Joyce, Prague’s first, oldest & still premier Irish Pub.

Unfortunately in 2003 James lost his home in Liliova street & after a few homeless years struck up a friendship with Molly Malone. After a short courtship he moved in with her in December 2009. Molly had lived at u Obecniho dvora since 1994 & like a good old fashioned & obedient woman she soon allowed Joyce to take full control of her cosy home & even put his name over her door.

While he now became the man of the house he has never been celebrated in song unlike Molly whose refrain is known all over the world.

The song “Molly Malone” is set in Dublin, & has become the unofficial anthem of Dublin City. It tells the fictional tale of a beautiful fishmonger who plied her trade on the streets of Dublin, but who died young, of a fever. In the late 20th century a legend grew up that there was a historical Molly, who lived in the 17th century. She is typically represented as a hawker by day and part-time prostitute by night. However, there is no evidence that the song is based on a real woman, of the 17th century or at any other time. Nevertheless, in 1988 the Dublin Millennium Commission endorsed claims concerning a Molly Malone who died on 13th June 1699, and proclaimed 13th June to be “Molly Malone day”.

James Joyce – a name often associated with Irish Pubs, acknowledging Ireland’s greatest novelist and poet James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (*2nd Feb. 1882 ‒ †13th Jan. 1941).

Joyce is best known for “Ulysses” (1922), a landmark work in which the episodes of Homer’s Odyssey are paralleled in an array of contrasting literary styles, perhaps most prominently the stream of consciousness technique witch he perfected.

Other major works are the short–story collection, “Dubliners” (1914), and the novels “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” (1916) and “Finnegans Wake” (1939).

“Ulysses” chronicles the passage of Leopold Bloom through Dublin during on an ordinary day, 16th June 1904 (the day of Joyce’s first date with his future wife, Nora Barnacle). The title alludes to Odysseus (Latinised into Ulysses), the hero of Homer’s Odyssey, and establishes a series of parallels between characters and events in Homer’s poem and Joyce’s novel. Joyce fans worldwide now celebrate 16th June as “Bloomsday” and of course you can join in the celebration with us here in Prague.

To this time, and hopefully for many a year to come, James Joyce, Prague’s Cosy Irish Pub, still pours the best pint of the black nectar to be found outside of Ireland. Come along and sip a drop or try one of our 50 different Irish Whiskeys.

Our welcome is always from the heart, we cook for you like one of the family, our log fire glows & the kettle is always on!

Many famous faces have sat beside the fire:  Bob Geldof, Denis Hopper, Liam Neeson, John Hurt, Richard Harris, Sean Bean, Jason Fleming, Elijah Wood, Václav Havel, Jiri Stránský, Rostislav Osička, Nadʼa Konvalinková, Ivan Klíma, Hynek Bocan,

the list goes on.

We hope that you truly enjoy your time at the Joyce & that you, in some way become part of our little (but expanding) ‘family’.

Virtual Tour!