Bloomsday Celebration on June 16th

Bloomsday, celebrated on June 16th, is a different kind of holiday.

The day celebrates the novel, “Ulysses,” written by James Joyce, published in 1922.

The day takes its name from one of the novel’s main characters, Leopold Bloom. The story in the novel takes place on one day, June 16, 1904, in Dublin, Ireland; hence, the date is forever set.

Bloomsday will be celebrated with a special event of readings from the novel and Irish music at Lanigan’s Irish Pub, 3119 W. 111th Street, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Donations to offset costs will be welcome at the event.

“Ulysses” is a take on the ancient Greek epic poem, “Odyssey,” in which the hero Odysseus wanders for ten years trying to return home after the Trojan War. He eventually reunites with his wife Penelope.

Joyce has his main characters, Stephen Daedalus and Leopold Bloom, crossing paths as they wander through Dublin for a day. Bloom then heads home to his wife Molly.

James Joyce is considered one of the most influential writers of all time. “Ulysses” is found on almost every list of best novels and was named the best English-language novel of the 20th century by a Modern Library jury of scholars.

At the same time, “Ulysses” is one of the most difficult books to read, thanks to the way Joyce intentionally wrote it. He uses different styles of writing for the different chapters, which he doesn’t number or even refer to as chapters, but as episodes with reference to Homer’s work as a guide.

He uses Irish slang, which is hard to decipher. He fills the book with allusions to other works, foreign languages, and puns. Some passages that refer to bodily functions or sexual acts caused the book to be banned for obscenity in the U.S. until 1934.

Joyce was quoted as saying, “I’ve put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant, and that’s the only way of insuring one’s immortality.” Indeed, entire college classes are devoted to studying “Ulysses.”

Joyce’s immortality is manifested through Bloomsday, when around the world, his fiction is celebrated. In Dublin, re-enactments take place at the real locations visited in the fictional book. In other places, marathon readings of the novel take place.

The program at Lanigan’s will feature about a dozen readers sharing passages from the book, interspersed with music provided by Pat Broaders and Pat Finnegan.

Mary Ann Ryan, Ph.D., a scholar in Irish literature who is one of those professors Joyce keeps busy, and who has taught those college classes on “Ulysses,” is coordinating the readers.

Also planning/sponsoring the event is Keith Lewis of Bookie’s New and Used Books, 10324 S. Western Avenue, Chicago. The book can be purchased at the store.

The event is headed by Tim Noonan, a champion of all things Irish in the Beverly community. Through Tim, the Chicago chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, an old fraternal organization, is also sponsoring the event as part of its Hibernian Talks series.

June 16th is also Father’s Day, and this event is an entertaining alternative way to spend the afternoon.

Attendees don’t have to be any kind of expert on James Joyce to attend and appreciate the event. Most people don’t get through “Ulysses” without help. This is a chance to learn more about the book and the author.

Camaraderie, good music, plenty of laughs, and maybe a beer or two will all be part of the afternoon’s enjoyment.