Derry festival to bring Ulysses's Molly Bloom to life

The event, titled The Molly Films, will showcase excerpts from Molly Bloom's famous monologue, a pivotal moment in James Joyce's novel Ulysses.

The festival will be organised by co-curator Seán Doran, and will be a celebration of Bloomsday in Derry that aims to offer a fresh perspective on Joyce's work by emphasizing the "female gaze" within the novel. According to organisers, the decision to host the event in Derry and Donegal represents the intention to expand the scope of the celebration beyond Dublin, reflecting Joyce's broader vision of Ireland as a whole.

The festival's focus on Molly Bloom highlights her complex character, including her references to a lesbian relationship and her comfort with her sexuality, as noted by Derry artist Tracey Lindsay, who has created a large-scale installation titled Molly's Bed for the occasion.

While traditional Bloomsday events will still take place in Dublin, including reenactments of Leopold Bloom's trip through the city, the Yes festival in Derry marks the conclusion of a two-year celebration of Ulysses across Europe. This celebration has seen artistic interpretations and performances inspired by Joyce's work in cities such as Athens, Berlin, and Marseille.

The character of Molly Bloom, inspired by Joyce's wife Nora Barnacle, has long captured the imagination of artists and scholars alike. Even Virginia Woolf, though critical of Joyce's novel, acknowledged its prominence. Bloomsday itself has a rich history that dates back to its beginning in 1954, continuing with various creative interpretations and celebrations over the years.