Joycean Celebrations are set to take place in Ballsbridge, Irishtown, Ringsend and Sandymount for Bloomsday this year. Dublin City Council’s South East Area Community Team have been working closely with groups and centres in Dublin 4 as well as the James Joyce Centre to support an exciting programme of events over the weekend of 15/16 June which will include tours, street theatre, literary readings and live music.
Bloomsday of course celebrates the life of James Joyce, his book Ulysses and the city of Dublin where the book’s story is set on 16th June, 1904. The day is named after Leopold Bloom, the central character in the book and the plot follows Leopold and his friend, Stephen Dedalus as they roam through Dublin and experience its many sides over one day.
The book’s structure is based on Homer’s Odyssey and uses a different style for each of its 18 episodes – it is considered one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century but also by many, the world’s most notoriously difficult-to-read novel!
Sample a flavour of Ulysses by joining us at some of the following free events and of course feel free to don your favourite Period Costume!
Saturday 15th June
Ringsend & Irishtown – Events organised by Ringsend & District Historical Society with support from Ringsend & Irishtown Community Centre
11am – The Orla Murphy Lecture
Venue: Ringsend Library, Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4
Hear about the life of Constance Markievicz with Dr Cormac Moore, Dublin City Council’s Historian in Residence.
12pm – Ringsend & Docklands Walking Tour
Meeting Point: Ringsend Library Plaza, Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4
Take a stroll with local historian, Eamonn Bohan, as he explores Joyce’s connection to these areas.
1.30pm – Bus Tour of Joyce’s Dublin 4
Meeting Point: Ringsend Library Plaza, Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4
Hop on an open top Big Bus for a tour guided by St Matthew’s Church historian, Trevor James. Priority will be given to older people and those with disabilities.
3pm – Bloomsday Folk & Ballad Session
Venue: Ringsend Library Plaza, Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4
Relax outdoors and enjoy a singsong to live performances from Mick the Busker, local balladeers The Pullovers and others.
Sunday 16th June
Ballsbridge – Events organised in partnership with Ballsbridge Living Tidy Towns
3pm – Ulysses Goes Wild in Herbert Park
Meeting Point: Outside Lolly and Cooks café, Herbert Park, Dublin 4.
Get closer to the wild side of Ballsbridge with Eanna Ní Lamhna, star of RTÉ’s The Mooney Show and Virgin Media’s The Six O’Clock Show, for a nature tour inspired by the “marriage of trees” from the Cyclops episode of Ulysses. Tour to last 60 minutes.
4pm – Seven Scenes from Ulysses
Meeting Point: The west/Donnybrook end of the Pond, Herbert Park, Dublin 4.
Watch Ulysses come to life on the streets of Ballsbridge in the company of Leopold Bloom, Molly Bloom and Stephen Dedalus!
Ringsend & Irishtown – Events organised by Ringsend & District Historical Society with support from Ringsend & Irishtown Community Centre
11am – Joycean Procession
Meeting Point: Outside St Patrick’s Church, Thorncastle Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4
Follow a Horse Drawn Carriage and reimagine the walk taken by James Joyce and Nora Barnacle on their first date. With literary stops along the way, this walk will finish in Ringsend Park for the unveiling of a commemorative plate on a park bench to mark the 120th Anniversary of Joyce and Barnacle’s first date and rendezvous in the park.
12.30pm – Bloomsday Brunch
Venue: Rear of Ringsend & Irishtown Community Centre, Thorncastle Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4
Enjoy some refreshments to a backdrop of jazz, street theatre and literary readings. Prizes for best dressed on offer!
4pm – Writer’s Adventure
Venue: CYWMS Hall, opposite Ringsend Library, Dublin 4
Enjoy a selection of poetry and short story readings from local writers including local school students who will contribute to this event through the “Ringsend & District Remembered” intergenerational project. Entries can be submitted to ringsenddistricthistorical@gmail.com by 10th June.
Sandymount – Events organised by Sandymount Community Centre and Sandymount Tidy Towns Community Association
11am – Elevenses with Leopold
Venue: Sandymount Community Centre, Newbridge Avenue, Dublin 4
Enjoy an elegant start to your Bloomsday with morning coffee, croissants and a dash of gentle Joycean entertainment. €5 admission with proceeds going to the Centre.
1pm – Ulysses Goes Wild in Sandymount
Meeting Point: Sandymount Green, Sandymount, Dublin 4
Join author of “Wild Dublin”, Eanna Ní Lamhna, for a 60 minute nature tour inspired by the “marriage of trees” from the Cyclops episode of Ulysses.
All events supported by Dublin City Council
