State papers: Taoiseach Jack Lynch confused by plea to bring James Joyce's remains home

Nora and Giorgio Joyce's entreaties came to nothing and James Joyce’s body remained at Zurich’s Fluntern Cemetery where he was buried after a modest ceremony in 1941. Picture: Josef Breitenbach/PA

Taoiseach Jack Lynch expressed confusion after the family of James Joyce sought to have the famous author’s remains returned to Ireland and questioned what exactly they expected of the Government.

Confidential files released as part of the 1994 State papers reveal that the Government wanted to find out exactly what was involved in the proposal to bring home the body of the Dublin-born poet, novelist, and literary critic who had died in Zurich in January 1941, at age 58, following complications from surgery.