In 1954, on the 50th anniversary of this day, a group went to a Martello tower before going on a bender

The Final Jeopardy clue for Friday, April 24, 2026, appeared in the category “The Literary Year” and read: “In 1954, on the 50th anniversary of this day, a group went to a Martello tower before going on a bender.” The clue points to a famous date in modern literature, one tied to James Joyce’s Ulysses and later celebrated by readers in Dublin and around the world. The correct response is the literary holiday associated with Leopold Bloom’s journey through Dublin.

What is Bloomsday?

Bloomsday is celebrated on June 16, the date on which the events of James Joyce’s Ulysses take place. The novel follows Leopold Bloom, Stephen Dedalus, and other characters through Dublin over the course of a single day in 1904.

The date was personally meaningful to Joyce because June 16, 1904, was the day of his first outing with Nora Barnacle, who later became his wife. By setting Ulysses on that date, Joyce turned an ordinary day in Dublin into one of the most studied dates in literary history.

The 1954 Celebration

The clue refers to the 50th anniversary of June 16, 1904, when a group of Irish writers and artists marked the occasion by retracing parts of Bloom’s route. The group included figures such as Patrick Kavanagh, Flann O’Brien, Anthony Cronin, John Ryan, and Tom Joyce.

Their journey began at the Martello tower in Sandycove, the opening setting of Ulysses. The outing became less formal as the day went on, with drinking and celebration overtaking the planned literary pilgrimage. That detail explains the clue’s reference to the group going “on a bender.”

Why the Martello Tower Matters

The Martello tower is central to the opening of Ulysses, where Stephen Dedalus begins the day with Buck Mulligan and Haines. The real tower in Sandycove has since become closely associated with Joyce and is now home to the James Joyce Tower and Museum.

Starting the anniversary celebration there made sense because it mirrored the beginning of the novel. It also gave the gathering a clear link to the geography of Joyce’s Dublin, where real places and fictional events are woven together throughout the book.

Why This Clue Works

This Final Jeopardy clue works because it combines a literary anniversary, a famous Dublin landmark, and a playful historical detail. The mention of the Martello tower points toward Ulysses, while the 50th anniversary of the novel’s date leads directly to Bloomsday.

Bloomsday remains one of the best-known literary celebrations in the world. What began as a tribute to Joyce’s fictional day has become an annual event involving readings, costumes, walking tours, and visits to locations connected with Ulysses.