Joyce's Ulysses Radios Back to Life for Bloomsday
Joyce's seminal work, "Ulysses," is once again gracing our radio waves in celebration of Bloomsday.
Here's a jolly old spin on how to celebrate the best day of the year for Joyce fans: tune in to RTÉ Radio 1 Extra this June 16th. Why, you ask? 'Cause the wildly popular re-broadcast of the 1982 recording of James Joyce's Ulysses is back, baby! And this epic literary journey starts promptly at eight in the morning.
Every year on this day, RTÉ offers a unique contribution to the annual Bloomsday festivities. While Ulysses is available year-round at the James Joyce on RTÉ Drama on One carousel, there's nothing quite like the communal vibe of a Bloomsday broadcast.
William Styles, a former New Zealander who trained at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), directed the Radio Éireann Players' rendition. With sound engineer Marcus Mac Donald, Styles toiled away from February 1981 until June 1982, forging this cultural behemoth. A self-proclaimed enthusiast, Mac Donald shared Styles' relentless attention to detail and appetite for sonic innovation.
Conor Farrington, a gent of exquisite erudition and sensitivity, was the main narrator. Bloom was portrayed by Ronnie Walsh, with Denis Staunton, then a 20-year-old actor, stealing the show. Staunton, now a renowned critic for The Irish Times, called Walsh's performance a "cunning piece of casting" that somehow turned the actor's enigmatic nature into an advantage for the Everyman role. Patrick Dawson played Stephen Dedalus, and Pegg Monahan, a veteran member of the Radio Éireann Players since the company's inception in 1947, took on Molly Bloom.
First broadcast in 1982, this recording is both notable and timeless. Every year, a fresh crowd discovers its beauty, hailing it as a "radio masterpiece that respects the listener's intelligence" (John Phipps, The Spectator, 2022). Not only can you catch this production on RTÉ Radio One Extra on June 16th, but it's also available online anytime you feel like a Joycean feast! Take a listen and prepare yourself for those post-listen "withdrawal symptoms" – it's that addictive!
So, join the throng and seize the day – Let's collectively raise a toast to Joyce on this Bloomsday! And for more Joyce-related goodies from RTÉ Culture, head on down this way – cheers!
Listen to Ulysses on RTÉ Radio One Extra on Monday, June 16th starting at 8am. Enjoy a smorgasbord of James Joyce and Ulysses-centric treats from RTÉ Culture here.
Embrace the Joycean spirit all year round by immersing yourself in the James Joyce on RTÉ Drama on One carousel, not just on Bloomsday. You can also delve into related topics like home-and-garden, lifestyle, books, entertainment, and even engage on social-media platforms to participate in discussions and share your insights about Joyce's work.
