Four owlers masters

• The Four Masters: the four Irish 17th Century scholars who compiled the Annals of the Four Masters → the Four Old Men (X) in HCE's tavern

• old

• owlers: those who carried wool to the coast by night for illegal export → Erio in line 26 for another allusion to wool

• The Four Evangelists: the authors of the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
  • Wikipedia

• owls: in myth, lore, and popular culture, owls are often used to represent wisdom and prosperity as well as a companion animal for godesses
  • Wikipedia