Quotes About Kingstown

Stephen picks up on Armstrong's pier, and calls Kingstown pier a disappointed bridge (2.22). He's joking about the fact that Ireland wanted to be connected to continental Europe but ended up being extremely isolated.

A pier, sir, Armstrong said. A thing out in the waves. A kind of bridge. Kingstown pier, sir. Some laughed again : mirthless but with meaning. Two in the back bench whispered. Yes. They knew : had never learned nor ever been innocent. All. With envy he watched their faces. Edith, Ethel, Gerty, Lily. Their likes : their breaths, too, sweetened with tea and jam, their bracelets tittering in the struggle. — Kingstown pier, Stephen said. Yes, a disappointed bridge.