Hammersmith‘s Irish Cultural Centre celebrated the life and work of writer James Joyce last week with readings, poems and a screening of the 1967 Ulysses film adaptation.
An open mic event marked Bloomsday Eve celebrations, with the next day officially commemorating with the film screening and conversation with actor Frank Grimes.
Bloomsday is an annual celebration which honours Irish modernist writer Joyce, held on 16 June as it is the day depicted in his 1922 novel Ulysses.
Irish Cultural Centre chairman Peter Power-Hynes said: “It’s a great way to celebrate the man himself, and Irish writing, even for those who don’t get along with the texts so well.
“The community is what it’s about here.”
The centre has previously welcomed visitors from across the globe, with events including members from the Russian embassy and Albanian professors.
Power-Hynes said: “Everyone wanted to be Irish that night, steeping themselves in the old traditions whether they were or not.”
Gabriel, a Gaelic student at the centre, said: “Normally, I wouldn’t do anything to celebrate it, but [the organisers] have enthused us.”
Operating since 1995, the ICC has a joint venture with Liverpool University to support their Irish language classes, hosts tea dances, Irish-language film nights and music classes.
Gabriel said: “I realised, after years of studying German, that I could no longer remember my Irish, so I came to the centre to get it back, and it’s been great fun here.
“Learning with adults, they have no egos anymore.
“You don’t realise, until Christmas drinks, all the people who are attracted to the space; some with PhDs or working all over the place.”
The centre also arranges many cultural events, inviting musicians and speakers like the Irish writer Manchán Magan who visited the centre the week before to discuss the relationship between the Irish language, folklore, identity and landscape.
They are currently planning to open a 20,000-book library focusing on Irish interests by 2028 with help from National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Visitors can learn more about the work of the centre on their website.
Featured image by Oscar Herbert-Maynard
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