Bloomsday 2012

June 16th is a very important date in Irish literature. Fans of James Joyce and readers of his masterpiece Ulysses, will know that this was the date in 1904 that this wonderful story took place. One book describing one day in a Dubliner’s life and all of the thoughts, sights and sounds that go with it.

This Saturday Dublin and Ulysses will come alive with celebrations of the book happening all over the city in commemoration of Joyce and the legacy of his most famous work. The celebrations take place in sites mentioned throughout the book and those places will be awash with dedicated Joycians dressing up like characters from the book, Penny Farthing bicycles and a Joyce look-alike or three. Readings will  also be taking place all over, but particularly in the bandstand in St. Stephens’ Green between 3 and 6pm on saturday.

To celebrate, Ulearn will be going to where the book begins at Martello Tower near Sandycove. Martello tower is where the opening scene takes place and it’s a tradition to take a swim at the 40-foot before enjoying a traditional breakfast of kidneys, heart and liver followed by a nice drink. We will be leaving the school at midday and taking the DART to Sandycove. Hopefully the weather will be good, but bring your swimwear anyway. Hope to see you there. Here is a reading of the opeing scene of the book. Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/Kc0x2MaaDAc