Saturday 16 June 2012

Bloomsday

June 16 is Bloomsday, a celebration of all things Ulysses. I've never read Ulysses, and let's face it I am completely unlikely to ever to read it, but I can still rejoice in Bloomsday. Not that I want to eat kidneys for breakfast all that much.

I was in Dublin in 2010 on Bloomsday and tried to do a Bloomsday walking tour, but it turns out that there are two tourist information centres in Dublin and waiting at the wrong one doesn't help. Still I took in some Bloomsday sights, aided by the Literary Walking Tour in my trusty Eyewitness Guide.

Bust of James Joyce in St Stephen's Green- possibly the most beautiful park in the world


Sweeny's Chemist where Leopold Bloom bought lemon soap.
Actually this makes me want to read Ulysses even less. 




Joyce was a student at Newman House from 1899-1902

What is a Dublin walking tour without a few pubs?

Davy Byrnes- apparently the setting of a famous scene in Ulysses

Joyce liked a drink at The Duke- as did Brendan Behan, Patrick Kavanagh and Flann O'Brien. 

The cult of Ulysses is still everywhere in Dublin


Saturday Snapshot, is a wonderful weekly meme from at home with books

30 comments:

The Daemon said...

Happy Bloomsday!

Cathy said...

After touring with you, I think I need to stop at one of those pubs. I'm thirsty! ;-)

BooksPlease said...

The tour does look more accessible than Ulysses! I've started reading it a few times and never got very far.

Cipriano said...

I have three Joyce books on my shelf here..... have not read one of them yet. To my shame, I guess.
BUT..... I have read that Yann Martel one, above the Joyce stuff, and I loved it.
Great pics.
If I were in Dublin, I would be so full of Guinness I would not be able to WALK a walking tour of any kind!

ZaraAlexis said...

There must be something in the beer at The Duke for writers...will have to travel there sometime soon. Thanks for sharing your pics!

Trish said...

Thank you for that tour! Ulysses is a book I will probably never read, but I always appreciate knowing more about famous writers.

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

Great shots! The pubs would be my favorite spot...the conviviality of them encircles all who enter their doors. Or so my eldest son says, as he lived in Ireland for several months. He took some shots inside the pubs that are my favorites.

Thanks for sharing, and Happy Bloomsday!

Here's MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT

Eugenia O'Neal said...

Lovely photos! That bust is wonderful! Looks like it was lovely weather for a tour.

Eva said...

Great shots, and thanks for sharing some of the Ulysses lore. I don't think I'll ever read it either, to be honest. The bust is great, my favorite.

Sharon Galligar Chance said...

Very cool photos! Love just looking at the buildings!

Book Savvy Babe said...

So, I don't know what Bloomsday is at all, but I love your Dublin photos. Dublin is on my list of places I want to visit. Book Savvy Babe

gautami tripathy said...

I am never going to read Ulysses EVER! But I liked the photos!

Here is my Saturday Snapshot post!

Sim Carter said...

I wanna go! I've never been to Ireland although I do recall a couple of cute Irish publovers, Ian and Declan, from my youth. And daunting as it may be, maybe I'll try the dreaded Ulysses. Hmmm. Maybe not. Thanks for the inspiring pics, Louise!

Christine Harding said...

The bust is amazing. Perhaps I'm a bit peculiar, but I have read Ulysses, and I did enjoy it - and I'm very envious of you going to Dublin.
My Snapshot is here http://goo.gl/vTUc8

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

This is one cool statue.

Susan said...

Lovely pictures as always. After watching my husband suffer through Ulysses I promised myself I wouldn't undertake that particular challenge. But a Dublin tour looks like fun!

Anonymous said...

I always love making book/author connections to places I visit. Fun to see these--even if I have no plans of EVER reading Ulysses!

Leslie (Under My Apple Tree) said...

Thanks for the education. I didn't know about Bloomsday.

Bev Hankins said...

Happy Bloomsday! I've read Ulysses--because I thought that was an English Major-y kind of thing to do. You haven't missed much...trust me. Joyce is much better in short story form--at least I think so.

And that bust is just....well...BIG. Great pictures!

Here's my Snapshot.

bermudaonion said...

I bet it was wonderful to be in Dublin, particularly on Bloomsday! Thanks for sharing the photos!

Irene said...

I'm so ignorant, I had no idea what Bloomsday was. It's really my wedding anniversary, but Bloomsday will do. Great post. Thanks.

Peppermint Ph.D. said...

I visited Dublin just this past spring and hope to be able to return in a couple of years. I will so be going on some of the literary tours next time :)

Harvee said...

How lucky you were to see Dublin. If I ever get there I must remember to visit St. Stephen's Green and the pubs. I wouldn't mind some kidneys for breakfast!

Alyce said...

Thanks for sharing those! I tried reading Ulysses (made it 100 pages) and I think anything to add to the understanding (like visiting those places) would be helpful.

Anonymous said...

I Really enjoyed the tour! :-)

Pooch said...

I enjoyed the vicarious tour of Dublin--truly enjoyed your pix and narrative.

:)

Paulita said...

I think the tour sounds better than the book, but I shouldn't judge cause I've never tried to read it.

abrianna said...

Looks like a lovely tour you had. I want to join you too at a pub-sans the kidneys please.

Thank you for your comments on my water lilies.

Brona said...

Great photos - I'd love to get to Ireland some day soon.
Like you I know I will never read Ulysses although that doesn't stop me from picking it up in bookshops all round the world...and just for a minute imagine, as I feel it's weight it my hands and flip through all those pages, that I am the kind of person who would actually read it!!

Esme said...

I had a friend that did the author tour when he was in Dublin and brought me home some bookmarks.