The Embassy of Ireland to Indonesia celebrates ‘Bloomsday’ on 16 June 2022. Bloomsday is a celebration that takes place both in Dublin and around the world to mark 16 June 1904, which is the day depicted in James Joyce’s famous novel Ulysses. A modernist masterpiece, the novel follows a day in the life of Leopold Bloom, Stephen Dedalus, and Molly Bloom.

Celebrations of Bloomsday come in many different forms, such as readings, performances, and visiting the places and establishments referenced in the book. Often those celebrating dress in the style of the day. 

This year, the Embassy celebrated Joyce’s life and extraordinary legacy, as well as the contribution of other Irish writers to global literature and culture. 

The Embassy of Ireland to Indonesia was participating in a global book giveaway, which  more than 3,500 copies of Joyce’s works were distributed across four continents, in 12 languages, including Vietnamese, Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese, Hungarian, and Croatian. 

Joyce’s most celebrated texts were winging their way to cafes and libraries throughout Indonesia this Bloomsday. The Irish Embassy also has collaborated with Bookhive Jakarta and Canggu to donate a range of Irish books, from authors like Sally Rooney, Emma Donoghue, and Colum McCann. 

The Embassy ran a competition through our social media accounts on 17 June. There were plenty of Embassy Goodie Bags and James Joyce books to be won. The Embassy also collaborated with Trinity (@trinitytraveler) to provide a footage shot for a short film produced in collaboration with Irish Embassies worldwide.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Trinity (@trinitytraveler)

The short film was about seeing the themes of history, time and love through the lens of Ulysses. Throughout, the film would use its prose to ask the question: "does history repeat itself, and if so, what is the antidote?"

For more information on the initiative and to see the short film Hold to the Now, go to ireland.ie/bloomsday or contact Ms Marita Dewi at the Embassy (marita.dewi@dfa.ie).