The largest Bloomsday celebration to date was hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Ireland’s global network of embassies and consulates on 16 June, 2022.
DFA and Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) collaborated with 35 Irish embassies and consulates worldwide to create ‘Hold to the Now’, a new short film for Bloomsday. Filming took place across five continents from Cairo to Kyiv, Austin to Abuja, Singapore to Santiago, and Berlin to Brasilia. Performers include actors Stephen Fry and Glenn Keogh (‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’), leading Irish artist Amanda Coogan, and one of the world’s most eminent Joyceans, 94-year-old Dr Fritz Senn, president of the James Joyce Foundation in Zurich. ‘Hold to the Now’, with an original score composed and performed by Cormac Begley, is available to view on the DFA YouTube channel.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, commented: “Our 2022 Bloomsday campaign is a global celebration of Joyce in this centenary year of the publication of ‘Ulysses’, embracing not only literature but film, visual art, performing arts and Irish studies. Global Ireland’s continuing innovation in cultural diplomacy connects new audiences worldwide with Irish ideas and creative excellence through the diverse partnerships forged by our diplomatic network.”
Check out the full range of activities at Ireland.ie/Bloomsday. And watch the Bloomsday Film Festival online until 23 June, 2022: Here.