Celebrating Bloomsday with Dublin Club
A great time was had by the 8 members who travelled to Dublin Friday 16 June to celebrate Bloomsday with the Rotary Club of Dublin enjoying good company, good food and wine, great sunny hot weather and spectacular costumes worn by Dublin Club members. The Bloomsday Celebration commemorates James Joyce and has been held internationally since 1954. Sandycove is the site of Joyce’s Tower (an old Martello Tower, one of the Napoleonic defences) and the Bloom in Bloomsday refers to the surname of a lady whom Joyce had invited to meet him during his 6 night stay.. She did not turn up so the period was called Bloomsday. (Picture left shows Dublin President Pamela O’Loughlin (2nd left) with the Mayor of Sandycove and other Dublin ladies at Joyce’s Tower)
The group were met at Dun Laoghaire Dart Station by President Pamela O’Loughlin and 7 others. In spite of the very small numbers we were most cordially welcomed and escorted on a walk from the Dart Station to Sandycove via the village of Glasthule which was closed to through traffic, all shops having tables for food and refreshments outside. (Picture right shows some of the group outside Quinn’s Funeral Home in Glasthule, who were dispensing free wine to all and sundry)
Most of the crowds of ladies and gentlemen about the Sandycove/Dun Laoghaire area were dressed in Edwardian styles with hats/boaters etc. There was a very cosmopolitan atmosphere with many visitors photographing the fashion. This was the first time that all Dublin Rotarians had decided to dress up and around 30 of them were present resplendent in their costumes with no clashes of style!
They walked back along the promenade to the National Yacht Club for a drinks reception and lunch of a “breakfast” course of Kidney, Oyster, Prawn and Gorgonzola Cheese with Grapes, followed by a “lunch” course of delicious Ham and Cabbage with vegetables and a sweet course and topped off by Coffee. Excellent fodder all round!
During the meal they were entertained to readings from Joyce’s book Ulysses and songs of the period. Finally the Judges selected the best dressed Lady and the best dressed Gentleman. The whole scene was so friendly that 6 of the Belfast contingent decided to catch the later 7.00pm train home rather than the previously intended 4.40pm.