Celebrate the legacy of James Joyce with a host of Bloomsday events
Celebrate Bloomsday with a whole host of events supported by Dublin City Council Libraries.
Bloomsday occurs every June 16th to honour the life of Irish writer James Joyce. The date is no coincidence, as it’s the exact day his iconic 1922 novel, Ulysses, takes place. This modernist masterpiece chronicles a single, seemingly ordinary day in the life of Leopold Bloom, immortalising his stream of consciousness internal world within iconic Dublin's streets.
Taking readers on a journey from the Martello tower in Sandycove right through to city centre locations like Sweny's Pharmacy and Davy Byrne's Pub, Ulysses is a real who’s who of Dublin landmarks. Considering this, Bloomsday offers endless opportunities not only to experience the genius of Joyce, but to see the city’s history and cultural heritage with renewed vigour.
Those looking to fill their calendar can join Dublin City Council Culture Company Historian in Residence Antonia Hart at Pearse Street Library today (June 11) for her talk on Ghost Signs of Ulysses at 6pm. This book catalogues stories of some of the well-known businesses encountered in Ulysses.
The talk is accompanied by Lynn Nalty‘s gorgeous photography from the book Ghost Signs of Dublin, including the beautiful interior of Sweny, where you can still buy that ‘sweet lemony wax’, the glorious red brick Dolphin, and many more.
Despite his criticism of the stifled nature of Irish society during his time, Joyce was a strong proponent of the Irish language and culture, which was deeply infused in his work. This can be celebrated later this evening at ‘James Joyce agus a raibh de Ghaeilge ina thimpeall’ in the Central Library. Here attendees can join Irish language scholar Alan Titley for a celebration for all things Joyce as Gaeilge.
A Bloomsday performance will also take place in the Central Library on June 12 at 12pm. With a special performance with a special performance of James Joyce inspired music with Irish classical vocal duro Sonaírí and their accompanist Maja Elliott, this will bring together Sonaírí’s classical with Irish musical heritage with Elliott’s more modern jazz influenced style.
On Bloomsday itself (June 16), literary lovers can enjoy the Ghost of Joyce script reading at Charleville Mall Library at 3pm. This is a public script reading performed by Uncut Diamonds, where attendees are encouraged to dress up, join in, and even read a part.
On Wednesday June 17, there’s 'Ulysses Ballads' with the JoyceStagers at Dolphin's Barn Library. The performance will include a selection from two collections of 18 ballads inspired by James Joyce’s Ulysses, published in 2024 and 2026 by Val O’Donnell.
The Ulysses Ballads are all new and original ballads written to the airs of music that is mentioned in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses, or otherwise connected with him and his work. All the subjects of the ballads are characters who are featured in Ulysses.
It’s not just Dublin City Council Libraries celebrating Bloomsday this June, as a ‘sip and paint’ and a bilingual salon are among the events set to take over Bewley's Grafton Street this month. Bewley’s Presents and Paint by the Pints have come together to create an evening curated to Bewley's experience this Bloomsday, June 16, from 6.30-8.30pm.
The event will honour author James Joyce and the many literary greats who once crossed its threshold. Bewley’s coffee grounds will be used for an evening of coffee watercolour painting on postcards in the iconic Dublin venue.
Guests will create their own artwork inspired by the writers, stories and historic atmosphere of Bewley's. Tickets can be purchased at paintbythepints.com and includes all materials, facilitation and a complimentary drink on arrival.
This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme