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Ulysses

Bloomsday breakfasts, walks, talks and music celebrate Joyce's iconic work

Events have been taking place all week to commemorate Joyce’s most iconic work.

13th January - Died on this Day - 1941 PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

BLOOMS DAY CELEBRATIONS are already in full swing leading up to Monday.

There is a whole host of events taking place all over the country. There’s Bloomsday breakfasts, walks and talks.

Bloomsday is celebrated every June 16.

This day is of importance as the events in his most iconic book, Ulysses, takes place on 16 June 1904. However, over the years as the festivities grew in popularity events have been taking place for the whole week in the run up the Bloomsday.

Any way you want to commemorate Joyce and one of his great works, Ulysses, there is a range of things to do.

So, here’s how you can join in the fun.

Dublin

June 15th

  • Joyce Circular Walking Tour, 11am, James Joyce Centre
  • Dubliner’s Walking Tour, 2pm, James Joyce Centre
  • In the Footsteps of Leopold Bloom, 3pm, James Joyce Centre
  • Father’s of Western Thought: Finnegan’s Walk, 8pm, Monster Truck Gallery

The James Joyce pub crawl combines Irish literary and pub culture, taking in some of Dublin’s best traditional pubs as well as some talented speakers, poets, singers and storytellers. If you want to take part, meet at the James Joyce Centre. Tickets are €7/5. Booking is required here.

Bizarre Bloomsday Brunch: White linen and straw hats and a gramaphone disco, what’s there not to love. Taking place from 1pm – 3pm on North Great George’s Street.

John Huston’s ‘The Dead’ is being shown at the Irish Film Institute in Temple Bar at 4pm.

Here’s James Joyce reading an excerpt from Ulysses:

Dor Shilton / YouTube

June 16th, Bloomsday 

  • Bewley’s Blomsday Breakfast, 10am -11.30am, James Joyce Centre
  • Bloomsday Walk, 10am, James Joyce Centre
  • Bloomsday at the James Joyce Centre, 2pm – 6pm
  • Readings and Songs, 2pm-4.30pm, Meeting House Square, Temple Bar

This year, Glasnevin Cemetery Museum will run a series of events, including a Joycean themed breakfast and lunch in the Tower Café, a reading of Chapter Six Hades by the Dublin Shakespeare Society and a Joycean tour of the cemetery itself.

PA-8629196 AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Dún Laoghaire/ Glasthule/ Sandycove

Just like Dublin city, these areas also feature in Ulysses, which is why there is lots of events taking place here also.

On Sunday a Bloomsday Breakfast will be held as well as lots of music and entertainment. For the first time since its creation the Tower of Ulysses is on loan to Dún Laoghaire and can be viewed at 58 Georges Street and its creator Aidan Breen shall be there to give lectures at 4pm today.

There will also be readings at various locations throughout Dún Laoghaire with professional actors. 

James Joyce walking tours will begin at noon from the band stand in The Peoples Park Dun Laoghaire today.

What other events are taking place across the country? Tell us in the comments section below. 

Read: People are losing the rag over three Irish books included in a “Best British Novels” list>

Extract: Colm McCann on Dublin, Ulysses and friendship>

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