On June 16, we celebrate Bloomsday, a cultural rendezvous with the novel Ulysses, written by James Joyce, a literary festival that crosses borders and another year arrives in Spain from Dublin with activities and readings in different cities. Especially in Madrid.
In the capital will be held the fourth edition of the Bloomsday Madrid-Dublin, organized by Turismo de IrlandaOpens in new window and the Asociación Soy de la CuestaOpens in new window, with readings, recreations of passages from the novel, music and references to the Edwardian costumes of the time: Long dresses, suits and of course canotiers hats.
The writer Enrique Vila-Matas, author of Dublinesca and declared joyceano, will act as godfather and with him will participate other voices of culture and letters, such as the journalist and writer Marta Fernández, who will read the monologue of Molly Bloom; Eduardo Lago and Marcos Giralt Torrente, who already acted as godparents in previous editions; the Hispanic Ian Gibson; and Diego Garrido, translator of James Joyce and expert connoisseur of his work. Undoubtedly, a great opportunity to enjoy the culture in the Cuesta de Moyano, whose book fair turns 100 years this 2025, and get close to one of the most important figures of Irish literature, James Joyce.
Irish musician Davy LyonsOpens in new window, who will perform two musical themes connected with the novel. The Ulysses is also a tribute to the tradition and culture of Ireland. The work is a written record of the vast oral tradition that for centuries has been kept alive in Ireland and contains more than 800 direct musical references ranging from opera to music hall, including pieces from the old Irish songbook. Another reason to consider it a cultural jewel.
Bloomsday Madrid-Dublin 2025 is an initiative of Tourism of Ireland and the Asociación Soy de la Cuesta and also has the support of the area of Economy, Innovation and Finance Government of the City of Madrid, as well as the collaboration of the Embassy of Ireland, the library Desperate LiteratureOpens in new window and Vestuario Carmen 17Opens in new window. The main event, with the reading of various passages from the novel, will take place in the morning at Cuesta de Moyano. In the afternoon, the bookstore Desperate Literature (Calle de la Cava Baja, 8) will also host a small event in tribute to James Joyce.
There will be more Joyce at the Ateneo de Madrid (calle Prado, 21) even in this month of May. On the 27th, the Ateneo de Madrid, the Bloomsday Society and the Embassy of Ireland organize the event Ensayo Bloomsday 2025 (Homenaje a Denis Rafter)Opens in new window. It will be at 7 pm in the Ciudad de Úbeda lounge, with reading in Spanish and English and violin music to liven up the evening.
