The heavy rain on Friday of last week had ceased and was replaced by warm June sunshine, as people arrived in Bowling Green to celebrate Bloomsday at the Nora Barnacle House.

It was a very international gathering, with guests from New York, Barcelona and Rome joining many Galwegians to participate in the event.

They had come to Nora Barnacle’s family home to celebrate the life and times of James Joyce and his wife, Nora, whom he so famously commemorated by setting his epic novel, Ulysses, on June 16, 1904, the day they first walked out together.

For several hours, readers took to the podium and recited their favourite passages from the works of the writer. These included extracts from Ulysses, the heartbreaking tale of Eveline from Dubliners, extracts from Joyce’s account of the Maamtrasna murder trial, and in contrast, the amusing, The Cat and the Devil, written especially for his grandson, Stephen Joyce.

The readings complete, refreshments were served, old acquaintances renewed and new faces welcomed.