When James Joyce’s Ulysses first came out, many found it obscene and unreadable. Joyce responded, “If Ulysses isn’t fit to read, then life isn’t fit to live.” From these disreputable beginnings, Bloomsday has become a street festival celebrating Joyce’s novel and its main characters Molly and Leopold Bloom. Traditions range from dressing up all Edwardian, re-enacting scenes or eating (and drinking….) things mentioned in the book. Highlights include RTE presenter Anne Doyle interviewing Senator David Norris about his Joycean life; a twist in Leopold Bloom’s tale with “bloominauschwitz” at The New Theatre; The Poetry Brothel unravelling Joyce – “O, Rocks! Tells us in plain words”; a Bloomsday Body Painting Jam and a glorious convergence of adventurers and chancers at the Laughter Lounge for the “Bloomsday Blowout”.
