22nd March 2011: Chapters 7 and 8 – “Aeolus” and “Lestrygonians”

Before Nelson's pillar trams slowed, shunted, changed trolley, started for Blackrock, Kingstown and Dalkey, Clonskea, Rathgar and Terenure, Palmerston Park and upper Rathmines, Sandymount Green, Rathmines, Ringsend and Sandymount Tower, Harold's Cross. The hoarse Dublin United Tramway Company's timekeeper bawled them off ...

Navan Ulysses Reading Group continues its meanderings this week ‘in the Heart of the Hibernian Metropolis’. The seventh chapter of Ulysses sees our hero, Leopold Bloom, engaged in a series of near misses and frustrating disappointments as he seeks to place a newspaper ad on behalf of his client Alexander Keyes. In the newspaper offices, then as now, all is bombast and oratory as the assembled parties discuss everything from the Ancient Classics to Home Rule, racing tips and British imperialism.

Lestrygonians, the eighth chapter of Ulysses, sees a hungry Bloom meander across the city from the newspaper offices on Prince’s Street / Abbey Street to Duke Street. After his walk which is replete with images, tastes and smells of food, Bloom arrives in Davy Byrne’s pub where he has his much celebrated lunch of gorgonzola cheese sandwiches and burgundy wine before having another ‘near miss’ as he almost runs into Molly’s lover, the jaunty Blazes Boylan.  

Everybody welcome, suggested contribution of € 5 per person.

8th March 2011: Chapters 5 and 6 – “Lotus Eaters” and “Hades”

‘He foresaw his pale body reclined in it at full, naked, in a womb of warmth, oiled by scented melting soap, softly laved. He saw his trunk and limbs riprippled over and sustained, buoyed lightly upward, lemonyellow: his navel, bud of flesh: and saw the dark tangled curls of his bush floating, floating hair of the stream around the limp father of thousands, a languid floating flower.’

Navan Ulysses Reading Group continues apace on Tuesday evening coming, 8^th March 2011, between 6:30pm and 8:30pm in Navan Library. This evening we’ll be covering the fifth and sixth chapters of the book, ‘Lotus Eaters’ and ‘Hades’.

Join us as we venture out into the city with Mr Bloom, collect a letter from a secret correspondent, meet a couple of acquaintances, buy some soap and take a bath in the public baths at Lincoln Place. From there we’re off to Paddy Dignam’s funeral, during which a small group of mourners make their way across Dublin to Glasnevin Cemetery, cracking jokes as they go.

Everyone welcome, suggested donation €5.