Thomas Barnacle

Who was Thomas Barnacle?

Thomas Barnacle from Galway, Ireland was the father of Nora Barnacle and father-in-law of the novelist, James Joyce.

Barnacle was active in the trade unions from the 1860s to the 1890s. Though illiterate, he had a trade as a well-skilled baker—the family line of work—and was much in demand till the end of his life. He often freelanced beyond the town in such places as Oughterard.

He married Annie Honoria Healy in 1881 and they had children Mary, Nora, Bridget, Thomas, and Kathleen. One other boy died in infancy, and two other daughters are known to have been born to the couple.

Thomas and Annie moved house some seven times by 1904, all in lowly working-class districts of Galway such as Newtownsmyth, Raleigh Row, and Abbeygate Street, before eventually settling at number 8 Bowling Green, an L-shaped street below the church of St. Nicholas.

Sometime around 1896, Annie threw Thomas out of the house due to his severe drinking which had led to the loss of his bakery shop. However, he remained in demand as a journeyman baker.