Imagine a six-foot-plus “Turkish doctor” with a magnificent beard and turban striding through Georgian Dublin, charming MPs into handing over public money for exotic steam baths… only for everyone to later discover he was actually Patrick Joyce from Kilkenny.
This is the incredible, 100% true story of Dr Achmet Borumborad – one of the greatest and most charming conmen in Irish history.
Who Was Dr Achmet Borumborad?
In 1769 a mysterious and extremely tall “Turkish physician” arrived in Dublin wearing flowing robes, an enormous turban, and a beard that reached his chest. He called himself Dr Achmet Borumborad and claimed to have fled religious persecution in Constantinople (modern Istanbul).
Within months he had half the city talking about him. Women swooned. Husbands were compared (unfavourably) to the majestic doctor. And politicians? They opened the public purse without hesitation.
By 1771 Dr Borumborad had secured repeated grants from the Irish Parliament to build luxurious Turkish baths on Bachelors Walk – complete with hot rooms, cold plunge pools, and marble everywhere.
How He Conquered Dublin Society
According to Sir Jonah Barrington’s hilarious memoirs (Personal Sketches of His Own Times, 1827–1832), Dr Borumborad was:
- Over 6 feet tall – gigantic for the era
- Wore full Ottoman dress every day on the streets
- Had a beard so impressive that Dublin wives used it as the new gold standard for masculinity
- Spoke English with a dramatic “eastern” accent (probably fake)
- Threw the most extravagant dinners for MPs – endless champagne, claret, and entertainment
In return for the lavish hospitality, parliament kept voting him more money. Everyone was happy… until the night everything went wrong.
The Night 18 MPs Fell into the Cold Plunge Pool
One famous evening in 1771, Dr Borumborad was hosting nearly 30 parliamentarians. The wine had been flowing freely – so freely that the doctor ran out and went down to the cellar for another dozen bottles.
Sir John S Hamilton decided this was his cue to make a discreet Irish exit. In his rush he opened the wrong door… and plunged straight into the ice-cold seawater bath.
The men chasing him to stop him leaving couldn’t brake in time. One after another they tumbled in after him like dominoes. When Dr Borumborad returned with fresh wine, he found his grand saloon empty and followed the screams to discover 18 or 19 soaking-wet, furious MPs floundering in the plunge pool like drowned rats.
Overnight the doctor went from hero to laughing-stock. The grants dried up. The invitations stopped.
The Greatest Reveal in Georgian Dublin History
With his business ruined, Dr Borumborad fell in love with a young Dublin woman named Miss Hartigan. Desperate to marry her, he made the ultimate sacrifice: he shaved off his magnificent beard, put on a regular suit, and arrived at her house to propose.
There he dropped the bombshell:
“I’m no Turk at all, my darling – sure I’m your own countryman! Patrick Joyce from County Kilkenny – the devil a bit more Turkish than yourself!”
The woman was apparently delighted, and the couple married and lived happily ever after.
Where Did Patrick Joyce Learn the Turkish Act?
Historians believe Joyce may have spent time as a merchant sailor and visited Smyrna (Izmir) in Ottoman Turkey, picking up enough language, dress and mannerisms to pull off the impersonation for years.
Whatever the truth, he remains one of the most successful and likeable impostors in Irish history.
Timeline: The Rise and Fall of Dr Achmet Borumborad
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1769 | “Dr Achmet Borumborad” arrives in Dublin in full Turkish dress |
| 1770 | Starts promoting Turkish & seawater baths in Finglas |
| 1771 | Granted public money to build luxurious baths on Bachelors Walk |
| 1771 | Hosts legendary dinner – 18 MPs end up in cold plunge pool |
| c.1773 | Reveals himself as Patrick Joyce from Kilkenny & marries Miss Hartigan |
| 1770s | Baths eventually close; site disappears under modern Dublin |
What Happened to the Turkish Baths on Bachelors Walk?
The original buildings were demolished long ago. Today the site is occupied by modern shops and cafés – though if you’re buying an over-priced coffee on Bachelors Walk, spare a thought for the soaked parliamentarians of 1771!
Why This Story Still Matters in 2025
The tale of Dr Achmet Borumborad / Patrick Joyce is more than just a funny Georgian anecdote. It’s a reminder of:
- How easily Dublin society could be dazzled by exoticism in the 18th century
- The Georgian love of Turkish baths (they were all the rage across Europe)
- That Irish people have always been brilliant storytellers – and occasional brilliant con-artists!
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