In Ireland, Bloomsday Is June 16
Q. My husband and I are planning to spend this Bloomsday (June 16) in Dublin. How can we best participate in the day’s events surrounding the doings of Joyce’s Leopold Bloom?
A. June 16, the day on which Bloom wanders through Dublin in “Ulysses,” is Bloomsday for Joyce enthusiasts everywhere, but in Dublin, the author’s home town, you can make a week of it if you want.
The James Joyce Center, 35 North Great Georges Street, (353-1) 878-8547, fax 878-8488, has designated June 7 to 16 Bloomstime, with a festival. The provisional program includes a one-man show inspired by Joyce on June 7 and June 12; a Molly Bloom Dinner on June 13, and a recreation of Paddy Dignam’s funeral from “Ulysses” on June 14.
June 16 at the center includes a Guinness breakfast at 8 a.m.; a morning walk at 9 a.m.; a lecture by Ken Monaghan, director of the center and a nephew of Joyce, at 2:30 p.m., followed by another walk; readings at 5 p.m.; and a concert at 8.
You will certainly want to visit the James Joyce Museum in the Joyce Tower, Sandycove, (353-1) 280965, fax (353-1) 2809265, eight miles south of Dublin in a Martello tower - built by the British Army against a threatened attack by Napoleon - where Joyce briefly stayed. The first chapter of “Ulysses” is set in the tower.
The museum has memorabilia and first editions of many of Joyce’s works. It is open from April to October, Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday and public holidays 2-6 p.m. It is closed from 1 to 2 p.m. Admission is about $4 (based on 62 Irish pence to the United States dollar).
Although plans for Bloomsday are not yet firm, the museum’s curator, Robert Nicholson, said there will be readings from “Ulysses.” Visitors often dress up, he said, typically in Edwardian style. “I hope someone will do something different,” he added. “If you take your inspiration from Joyce, you could dress up as the Greek Ulysses, for example.”
Other events, according to the Irish Tourist Board, will include reenactments of scenes from the book and readings throughout the city.
Q. I am planning a trip to the national parks this year. However, I’ve heard that Yellowstone National Park had major damage because of inclement weather this past winter. How accessible will this area be?
A. The park did have some rough weather this year, with snowfall ranging from normal in the Mammoth area to almost twice normal at the northeast and south entrances. However, officials hope to have roads cleared of snow on schedule.
Westside roads opened April 18 and eastside roads opened this past week. Seven feet of snow were slowing progress on south roads, but those too are expected to open soon. Other roads are scheduled to be cleared by May 23.
According to spokeswoman Stacy Churchwell, the weather “affected the wildlife more than anything - the migration, preventing them from getting down to the food sources they need.”
Major road construction projects planned for this year under a federal program will include the east entrance to Fishing Bridge and the road between Madison and Old Faithful. For park information, including road information, call (307) 344-7381. There is a Web site for general information about the park at http://www.nps.gov/yell/