This Bloomsday, Check into Ulysses Locations on Foursquare

With the news that Radio 4 is planning a special celebration of James Joyce’s Ulysses on Bloomsday (16th June for those not in the know), today we’re taking a look at how you can join in on the Ulysses-themed-fun online.

While there’s no news (as yet) of Joyceans using taking to Facebook to re-enact Molly Bloom’s monologue, an obvious network to celebrate Bloomsday on is Foursquare.

As Leopold Bloom and Stephen Dedalus zigzag across Dublin, you can check into some key locations from the novel – ranging from the Martello Tower, which houses ‘stately plump’ Buck Mulligan, to the national library, where Joyce had a fiery meeting with W.B. Yeats. Drawing from Visit Dublin’s  excellent Bloomsday map, here’s where you should check into on the 16th June and why:

 
James Joyce (Martello) Tower
Start at the beginning and step into the shoes of Buck Mulligan and Stephen Dedalus at Martello Tower. Now christened the ‘James Joyce Tower’, it now houses a museum dedicated to the author and hosts a series of special celebrations on Bloomsday.

Sandymount Strand
While you’re close to Martello Tower, You can also skip ahead to the Proteus section of Ulysses and recreate Stephen’s walk along Sandymount Strand. Although, we wouldn’t recommend reenacting Nausicaa!

The James Joyce Centre
Learn more about Joyce by visiting this unique centre, which has everything you need to know about the author, and Ulysses, including the original door from 7 Eccles Street – Leopold Bloom’s home. You can even book a special Bloomsday walking tour, curated by the centre.

National Library of Ireland
While Bloom doesn’t head to the national library until Scylla and Charybdis, we recommend skipping ahead so you can spend more time savouring the atmosphere (and ales) of Davy Byrnes. While at the library, be sure to pick up a copy of Hamlet – or look up an advert – and recreate either Stephen’s or Bloom’s actions.

Davy Byrnes
If you’re feeling peckish after your travels across Dublin, be sure to check into the Davy Byrne pub and order Bloom’s chosen snack; a gorgonzola cheese sandwich. A few pints of Guinness would also be fitting with the theme of things (although Bloom opted for wine).

If you’re still in the mood for more digital Joyce, then you’ll be pleased to learn that the national library has now made a range of Joyce’s manuscripts and letters available online.