Bloomsday Boat Tours
Dublin Boat Tours presents two Bloomsday-themed tours on Bloomsday, Tuesday, 16th June.
Follow Joyce’s Dublin from Sea to City (10.30am)
Explore Dublin from the Water – A River Liffey Adventure! Our popular River Liffey Tour is back for 2026 with a bang (or bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnk onnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk, as Joyce says…). Celebrate Bloomsday with a unique voyage through the landscapes that inspired Ireland’s most celebrated writer, James Joyce. Departing from Dún Laoghaire, our journey begins along Dublin Bay before passing some of the locations forever associated with Joyce, his life, and the unforgettable characters of Ulysses.
Cruise past Sandycove’s famous Martello Tower, now home to the James Joyce Museum, and the nearby Forty Foot bathing spot where the novel famously opens. Continue along the shoreline towards Sandymount Strand, the setting for one of Ulysses’ most memorable episodes, where Stephen Dedalus wanders in contemplation along the water’s edge.
As we enter the River Liffey, Dublin unfolds from a perspective few get to experience. Along the quays, discover locations connected to Joyce’s world, including Usher’s Island on the South Quays, immortalised in The Dead, while passing within sight of landmarks associated with Leopold Bloom’s Dublin, from Crow (‘Crowe’) Street and Suffolk Street to St. Stephen’s Green and the Shelbourne Hotel.
Along the route, enjoy views of iconic Dublin landmarks including Poolbeg Lighthouse, the Poolbeg Chimneys and the historic Pigeon House Power Station, all while hearing stories of the city that shaped Joyce’s imagination.
Adding a special local connection, our voyage departs from and returns to Dún Laoghaire, close to the sailing waters enjoyed today by students of Clongowes Wood College. Joyce himself, along with Stephen Dedalus attended Clongowes, making this a fitting starting point for a literary journey through Dublin Bay and the River Liffey.
Whether you’re a lifelong Joycean or simply looking to experience Dublin from a new perspective, this Bloomsday cruise offers a memorable blend of literature, history and spectacular scenery.
2 hour tour departing and returning from West Pier, Dun Laoghaire
TICKETS: Morning Tour @10:30am – River Liffey Boat Tour
Sail Through Joyce’s Dublin Bay (2pm)
Step aboard for a Bloomsday voyage across the waters that inspired generations of Dublin writers, led by none more famous than James Joyce.
Departing from Dún Laoghaire Harbour, you’ll cruise past the marina before heading between the East and West Pier Lighthouses and out into Dublin Bay. Along the way, you’ll encounter some of the coastline’s most significant Joycean locations, including the Martello Tower at Sandycove, now a museum dedicated to Joyce, and the nearby Forty Foot, forever linked to the opening pages of Ulysses.
The tour continues along the bay towards Sandymount Strand, where Stephen Dedalus’s famous walk unfolds against the backdrop of the changing tide. As you take in panoramic views of Dublin’s coastline, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of the landscapes that shaped Joyce’s imagination and continue to attract readers from around the world.
Cruising onwards past Scotsman’s Bay, Dalkey Sound, and the picturesque harbours of Bullock and Coliemore, keep watch for seals basking on Dalkey Island and other local wildlife that thrive in these waters.
The tour also celebrates a lesser-known connection between Joyce and Dún Laoghaire. Joyce attended Clongowes Wood College, as did his fictional counterpart Stephen Dedalus, and today the college enjoys a strong connection with sailing through its partnership with the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School. It is therefore a particularly fitting place from which to begin and end a journey exploring Joyce’s Dublin from the sea.
Perfect for Bloomsday visitors, literary enthusiasts, families and friends alike, this scenic cruise combines stunning coastal views, local history and the enduring legacy of one of Ireland’s greatest writers.
1.5 hour tour departing and returning from West Pier, Dun Laoghaire
When
- 16 June, 2026 - 10:30am to 12:30pm
- 16 Jun, 2026 - 2pm to 3:30pm