B l o o m s d a y   T o r o n t o   2009

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WHAT IS BLOOMSDAY?

Bloomsday is a kind of literary Holyday celebrated around the world. It is a celebration of James Joyce's novel Ulysses in which Leopold Bloom, a Dublin Jew, goes about his life in the city of Dublin on June 16th, 1904

The date Joyce chose for Bloom's perambulations was a tribute to his wife and muse Nora Barnacle. Joyce first encountered Nora, who worked at a nearby hotel, outside Trinity College. She originally mistook him for a Norwegian sailor but did agree to meet him, and so June 16th marks their first rendezvous.

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The festival is dedicated to the memory of the late, much-loved Bloomsday actor  

Claire Crawford Guinn

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BLOOM BITES 

The Bloomsday cast will include

Actors: 
Joe Allen; Mary Durkan; Desmond Ellis; 
Richard Harte; Ingrid Heming; Kevin Kennedy; Deirdre Kirby; Sean Mulcahy; Dennis O’Connor; Isolde ONeill;

with a guest appearance by Barbara Taylor at Bloom on the Beaches

 Singer: 
Kevin Kennedy will be our Singalong Maestro

Musicians: 
Debbie Quigley; October Brown; Loretta Reid

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Our generous Sponsors for BLOOMSDAY 2009 to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude are

  •     Irish Canadian Cultural Society

  •     Owen McCreery

  •     Dr. Joe Allen

  •     Philip Turk

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Next year’s festival BLOOMSDAY 2010 will mark our 25th anniversary. Any suggestions you might have about how we might celebrate this auspicious occasion will be welcome.One event we’ve decided on is to install a bench along the Boardwalk at the Beaches dedicated to the late actress, our beloved Claire Crawford Guinn

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If you would like to become involved in the BLOOMSDAY FESTIVAL, please get in touch. Volunteers in all departments are most welcome.

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The TORONTO BLOOMSDAY FESTIVAL 
 has been described by film maker Fritzi Hortstman, 
director of Joyce to the World, as “glorious…wonderful…with amazing actors….
in the top two Bloomsday celebrations anywhere.”

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We are proud to be twinned with the 
Glasthule/Sandycove Bloomsday Festival 
which takes place in Caveston’s of Glasthule and Fitzgerald’s of Sandycove in the shadow of the Martello Tower immortalised in the opening 
chapter of Ulysses.  

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 (Many thanks to artist Catherine Crowe for assembling
our webpage this year.)  

Dear Fellow Bloomers,

We’re delighted to announce that we will celebrate the 24th annual Toronto Bloomsday Festival in the ritualistic manner to which you’ve become accustomed.

 Founded in 1986, the festival has had many incarnations. Here’s what we’re planning for this year…

Bill of Fare

for Bloomsday 2009

 Tues. JUNE 16, 2009

  8.30am – noon:
BLOOM ON THE BEACH(ES)

A re-enactment of scenes from ULYSSES when the Beaches becomes Dublin for a day

8.30am:  Assembly: TTC loop at Neville Park (Queen St streetcar #501)

9.00am:  Readings with music along the Boardwalk, moving westwards

10.30am: Singalong, respite, and raffle at Bandstand Kew Gardens

10.50am: Readings at library and eastwards along Queen St. E.

 12noon: BLOOMSDAY BRUNCH

 Whitlock’s, 1961 Queen St. E. – Great food, music & reading. 416.691.8784

 8.00pm – midnight: BLOOMSDAY HOOLEY

For the second year, P.J.O’Brien’s, the famous Irish hostelry, will generously host the Hooley.

The festivities will include dramatized readings by actors from the Bloomsday cast, a singalong, musical interludes, and general merriment.

*A special pre-show Bloomsday menu will be available. Reservation advisable

Venue: P.J.O’Brien’s (Pat Quinn Room), 39 Colborne St. (behind King Edward Hotel, King St E)    www.pjobrien.com

 416.815.PJOB (7562)

Time: 8.00pm – midnight.

Admission: Pay What You Can. 
General seating so come early to avoid disappointment.

Join us for all or part of the entertainment

Dressing up in bonnet or boater is encouraged!

Mary Durkan, Festival Director

Anna Livia Productions

Festival information: 416.365.7877 or email: livia AT pathcom.com

ReJoyce!

Yours in the affirmative,

Mary

 Anna Livia Productions, founded in 1984, is a charitable organization and will issue tax receipts for all donations. Charitable Tax No: 11878.7423.RR0001