Bloomsday

Bloomsday is a typical Irish festival that takes place every 16th June in Dublin city. This festival pays tribute to the Irish writer James Joyce (1882-1941), considered one of the greatest literary talents in the history of Ireland…. More specifically, the Dubliners are attempting to reproduce the itinerary of a fictional character named Bloom, existing in Joyce’s novel Ulysses.

Presentation of Bloomsday

A reconstruction of James Joyce’s Ulysses

On June 16th, the people of Dublin like to celebrate the writer James Joyce by honouring one of his seminal works: that of Ulysses, written in 1922. The action takes place in Dublin itself, with a young man named Bloom as the main hero. Bloom is used to walking the streets of Dublin, and the writer takes the opportunity to describe the daily life of Dublin with a certain realism.

That is why, on June 16th, the Dubliners are trying to reproduce the fictional events of the book Ulysses, which also take place on June 16th. To do so, they dress in period costumes, follow the same itinerary of the character Bloom, and read excerpts from the novel Ulysses.

The readings are sometimes individual, or sometimes public, and thus make it possible to gather around the novelist”s writings for a day. Pubs and restaurants offer themed menus, and Irish beer is flowing all over the city… All this for a festive and colourful atmosphere…

So much more to discover...