Bloomsday is a festival of all things arts and culture as people gather to celebrate the novel Ulysses written by James Joyce.
The ground-breaking fictional tale was set on one day, June 16 in 1904, hence why the Bloomsday festival is celebrated on June 16 each year.
The novel describes Dublin so specifically that Joyce remarked that if Dublin was destroyed, Ulysses could be used to rebuild the city brick by brick.
How is Bloomsday being celebrated this year?
Events will be primarily online this year due to COVID. However, there will be some live spectacles to be enjoyed.
If you are only hearing of Bloomsday now, there is no need to panic because events will continue until later tonight.
Bloomsday itself kicked off at 8am this morning with the famous Bloomsday Breakfast. The tradition celebrates the novels main character Leopold Bloom’s favourite meal, grilled kidneys.
If you missed this mornings celebration, you can rewatch it online on Bloomsday's Facebook page or YouTube channel.
Readings and songs - 6pm
Comedian and performer Katherine Lynch will guide people through the real places of Ulysses in a live broadcast of the readings and songs event that will begin at 6pm on Facebook Live and YouTube.
The readings will bring Joyce's immortal words to life through his description of Dublin's 'snotgreen sea’ to Molly Bloom’s famous ‘yes’.
A Joycean Punk Cabaret – 8pm
Hosted by Mary Murray, who starred in the well-known drama Love/Hate, this alternative presentation of extracts, songs, poetry, and music celebrates all things Joycean.
Low-brow jibes will be thrown at anything that has ever dreamed of being placed on a pedestal.
This event will be broadcast live from the James Joyce Centre.
Bloomsday Film Festival
James Joyce set up Ireland's first cinema, the 'Volta Electric Theatre' on Mary Street in the heart of Dublin, in 1909.
In memory of this, for the second year, the Bloomsday Film Festival will showcase many Joycean films, and you can watch the festival at http://www.bloomsdayfestival.ie/filmfestival
Deirdre Mulrooney and Evanna Lynch will continue exploring James Joyce’s daughter, Lucia Joyce as an artist with an online reading of Calico by Michael Hastings. This will be available to watch online.
The poetry of James Joyce will be set to the music of some of Ireland’s finest contemporary musicians by Pomes Penyeach. This, too, will be available to watch online.
Bloomsday aims to bring together artists to tell the story of 21 st century Dublin and give people the opportunity to express their appreciation for James Joyce's contribution to Irish culture and arts.
