A walking tour and a Ulysses-inspired brunch are among the events taking place in Galway city next week during a day-long celebration of James Joyce and his Galway-born wife and muse, Nora Barnacle.
Bloomsday – the date of both the events of Joyce’s novel Ulysses and of his first date with Nora – is celebrated annually in Dublin on June 16. This year, Galway will host its Bloomsday events on Friday, June 19, ensuring next week’s celebrations begin in Joyce’s home town of Dublin and end in Nora’s home town of Galway.
Nora Barnacle, born in Galway Workhouse in March 1884, was Joyce’s muse, confidante, and greatest inspiration.
Her childhood home, now Nora Barnacle House Museum – the smallest museum in Ireland – preserves treasured photographs, personal memorabilia, and excerpts from the passionate correspondence shared between the couple. The museum will be open from 11am to 4pm on the day.
By exploring her story and Galway’s literary heritage, Bloomsday in Galway will celebrate the enduring bond that inspired Joyce’s imagination and shaped some of the most celebrated works of 20th-century literature.
On Friday, June 19, everyone is invited to get dressed up in their most elegant Edwardian-inspired attire and step into the world of Joyce and Nora. You can also rent/buy your outfit at the best vintage shop in Galway, Planet Retro Vintage.
Wander the streets they knew, discover the stories that shaped them, and immerse yourself in a truly Joycean experience inspired by Ulysses.
The day’s celebrations begin at 11am with the James Joyce and Nora Barnacle walking tour, led by renowned local tour guide Jim Ward.
Galway was Joyce’s second favourite Irish city, and either features directly or is referenced in all his works. Explore the Galway connections of Oliver St John Gogarty (immortalised as “stately, plump Buck Mulligan” ), Nora Barnacle’s early life in Galway, Joyce’s visits to Galway, and the local events and places mentioned in Joycean literature.
The tour, which lasts 90 minutes, begins at the Pádraic Ó Conaire statue in Eyre Square and ends at Caprice restaurant in Church Lane.
Caprice will then play host to a Ulysses-inspired brunch from 1pm, where you can taste some of the popular foods mentioned in Ulysses to tap into the world of Leopold Bloom. Edwardian background music and lovely atmosphere await you at Caprice.
After brunch, enjoy a visit to Nora Barnacle House Museum, located at 8 Bowling Green, just a short walk from Caprice. The museum will be open from 11am to 4pm on the day.
This event is supported by the Wild Atlantic Way and the James Joyce Centre.
To book the walking tour, brunch, or both, search Bloomsday in Galway on EventBrite.
The Bloomsday event is one of a series of monthly themed walking tours organised by Galway Tour Guides Association. For more information visit https://galwaytourguides.com.
