Gibraltar’s first ever Bloomsday celebration was held yesterday evening at the Molly Bloom statue in the Alameda Gardens.

Bloomsday is an international celebration of the life and work of Irish writer James Joyce, observed on the 16th of June. The day is named after Leopold Bloom, the main character of Joyce's novel Ulysses whose action takes place on Thursday, 16th June, 1904.

Organised by local writer Rebecca Calderon and Patrick Sacarello, the event opened with a short lecture by Charles Durante about James Joyce’s novel, a foundational text in modernist literature which mentions Gibraltar in its final, stream of consciousness chapter. 

Mr Durante’s lecture was followed by a short play written for the occasion by Ms Calderon titled “Molly’s A Llanita” featuring authentic Irish voices from the locally resident community. The play introduced some of the themes of Joyce’s novel via the character of Leo de la Rosa, a Llanito in a Dublin pub. 

Later, the attendees, many of them dressed in an Edwardian style, went to the Rock Hotel for readings by Heritage Minister Dr John Cortes and local writer Sonia Golt with Irish songs on the piano played by Stephen ffrench Davis. Guinness and Irish whiskey were served together with snacks.

Plans are already being made to celebrate the event next year which also marks the 25th anniversary of the Molly Bloom statue sculpted by Jon Searle.