Bloomsday at the Bastille – Readings and Songs from James Joyce’s work

Bloomsday, celebrated every year on 16 June, commemorates the work of the Irish author James Joyce. It is named after Leopold Bloom, one of the main characters in Ulysses, whose entire action takes place on 16 June 1904.

Joyce enthusiasts often dress in period costumes to evoke this period.

The Paris Bloomsday Group (Michael Craig Gradwell, Declan McCavana, Rosena Horan and Jean O’Sullivan – with poet Derry O’Sullivan as MC) perform readings and songs from James Joyce’s work every year on Bloomsday. Their mission is to make Joyce accessible to all.

Following last year’s performance at the Centre culturel irlandais in the Latin Quarter, the Paris Bloomsday Group is storming the Bastille on 16 June 2014. Declan, Derry, Jean and Michael will present excerpts from Ulysses, from “Stately plump Buck Mulligan…” to the final “yes” of Molly Bloom’s celebrated soliloquy.

As 2014 is the centenary year of Dubliners, excerpts from this
work will also be featured.

The readings – in English – will be interspersed with the popular songs that Joyce knew or featured in his work. Lyrics will be provided for the audience.