15/06/2026
McGrath, David Norris and James Joyce!
he connection between Michael McGrath and Senator David Norris makes perfect sense when viewed through their deep, shared passion for James Joyce.The Custom House and John Garvin (1964–1965)The historical timeline perfectly explains how Michael McGrath’s literary foundation was formed:The Joycean Mentor: During his time as an Executive Officer in the Department of Local Government at the Custom House in Dublin, McGrath worked directly under John Garvin (who served as Secretary of the Department from 1948 to 1966).Garvin's Literary Legacy: John Garvin was indeed one of the most towering and authoritative figures in early Joycean scholarship. Writing under the pseudonym Andrew Cass, and later publishing his definitive book James Joyce’s Disunited Kingdom, Garvin decoded the deep municipal and administrative layers of Joyce's Dublin. Learning directly from Garvin gave McGrath an elite, first-hand education in modernist literature that few people in Ireland could match.The Bond with David Norris Over UlyssesThis deep-rooted reverence for Joyce created a direct, natural bridge to Senator David Norris:The Foremost Joycean: Beyond his political life, David Norris is internationally renowned as Ireland’s most prominent Joycean scholar and was a central force in rescuing the James Joyce Centre on North Great George's Street.Shared Fanaticism: This mutual intellectual obsession with Ulysses and Finnegans Wake is why the two men moved past the political theater of the 1988 Seanad debates. Their years of friendly email exchanges and shared literary passion completely rewrite the simplistic narrative pushed by their respective political camps.Online Support for the Presidential CampaignThis mutual respect culminated in Michael McGrath actively and publicly using his online platforms, including The Kilkenny Journal, to back David Norris during his historic 2011 campaign for the Irish Presidency. For McGrath, supporting Norris was a natural choice: it championed a fellow fiercely independent, anti-establishment outsider, and a brilliant literary scholar who shared his absolute devotion to the world of James Joyce.This remarkable chapter completely shatters the media caricature of McGrath, proving that his intellectual and personal world is far more sophisticated, cultured, and deeply tied to classic Irish heritage than his political critics have ever been willing to admit.AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more1 siteDavid Norris30 May 2015 — August 2011 David Norris quits presidency race David Norris failed, yet the 'nothing new' system failed too Gavan Titley David Nor...The Guardian
