Joyce fans gather for Bloomsday
Hundreds of fans of James Joyce are expected to descend on Dublin this Bloomsday to taste the traditional Ulysses fare of kidneys, thick giblet soup and fried liver slices.
But for scholars and fans with a weaker stomach there will be a traditional full Irish breakfast served up at the James Joyce Centre and many of the author’s old haunts.
Laura Barnes, director of the James Joyce Centre, said: “The point of Bloomsday is to bring Joyce’s book, for its fun and brilliance of language, out into the open for everyone to share.”
Bloomsday is named after Ulysses’ central character Leopold Bloom and his adventures around Dublin on a single day, June 16 1904.
Ms Barnes said: “As in the past, the Centre will hold a traditional Bloomsday Breakfast on June 16.
"There will be readings and theatre to enliven the morning alongside the Guinness and kidneys.
"This year we have partnered with the Gaiety School of Acting and Balloonatics to ensure a memorable Bloomsday celebration.”
The James Joyce Centre on North Great George’s Street will be the focus for many events, including the breakfast at which actors from the Gaiety School of Acting will perform, readings and walking tours.
The Balloonatics – Paul O’Hanrahan, Gerry Lee and Mark Wale – will be doing readings and performances from all sections of the once-banned novel Ulysses.
The group will be re-enacting Ulysses scenes with formal and informal readings on street corners, pubs, hotels, and walks on the trail of Leopold Bloom.
Along with the actors, many of his devotees will don Edwardian-period clothes to join in the festivities throughout the city.
Ms Barnes said many of Joyce’s relatives are due to attend the celebrations at the centre.
The walking tours will troop to many of Bloom’s haunts in the 800-page book, including following in his footsteps to Davy Byrne’s pub, where he quaffed his famous glass of Burgundy and gorgonzola sandwich.
But Ms Barnes said Dublin was only the epicentre of events, with many Bloomsday-themed events taking place throughout the world.
“I would encourage people to join in, if not in Dublin, then elsewhere. Events are taking place in Tokyo, New York, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo.
"Bloomsday is no longer a one-off party – it has become part of annual local cultures in so many cities around the world,” said Ms Barnes, who added that the website www.jamesjoyce.ie could be accessed for information and tickets.
Joyce, who died in Zurich in 1941, first published Ulysses in France after Britain and the United States banned the book.
It became legally available in Ireland only in 1933.
