Poets Patrick Kavanagh and Anthony Cronin at the church in Monkstown with the carriage in which they’d been proceeding about Dublin in the footsteps of Leopold Bloom, the main protagonist in Ulysses – 50 years after Bloom traversed the city in James Joyce’s novel.
Date: Wednesday, 16 June 1954
Pic: National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Today we celebrate the life James Joyce, one of one of Ireland’s greatest authors and poets. Sandymount will play host to several events commemorating his literary achievements.
The first of these is a Bloomsday Walking Tour, which begins at 10am. Those wishing to participate should meet at the Iris Charles Centre, and from there the journey will proceed to Newbridge Avenue where the character Paddy Dignam lived in Ulysses. The tour will then conclude at Sandymount Green.
Following this, Sandymount Green will be home to an event at 11pm hosted by Senator David Norris. It will feature readings and recitals of Joyce’s works, as well as performances of songs he wrote.
Finally at 2.15pm, “Seven Scenes from Ulysses” will commence at Sandymount Green and take place in bars, shops and along the streets of Sandymount Village. Three actors, one of whom is Les Doherty in the role of Leopold Bloom, will perform pivotal scenes from Joyce’s most famous work in the locations that they took place in the story. This performance is organised by Dublin City Council in partnership with Harold’s Cross Village Community Council.
Attendance to these events is free, with no advanced booking required.
By Kevin Carney
