A Joycean Breakfast in celebration of the centenary of the publication of 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man'
On the morning of Thursday 15th December, Ambassador Mulhall and his wife Greta hosted a breakfast event to celebrate the centenary of the publication of 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man'. Guests listened to readings from a number of Joyce's works including, of course, Ulysses, and 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man'.
The event started with a lively reading from the Cyclops chapter in Ulysses. There were some musical high notes from Dublin-born Dr Janet Harbison who performed the world premiere of a solo harp piece she had arranged specially for the event, 'Bid Adieu to Girlish Days', a song written and composed by Joyce himself. She was accompanied by renowned Mezzo-soprano Jessica Costello who performed 'I Dreamt That I Dwelt in Marble Halls' and 'Love's Old Sweet Song'.
There were then readings of Joycean mealtimes from actors Colin Salmon and Dearbhla Molloy. Writings set at Christmas time from Joyce including 'The Dead' and the book of the day 'A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man' were also part of the tribute to the great Irish writer's work. Guests heard Clarke Peters, well-known for his role in acclaimed TV show The Wire, deliver a fire and brimstone sermon followed by Evanna Lynch, of Harry Potter fame, who evoked a beautiful girl on the beach as seen by Stephen Dedalus. Anna Friel brought a fitting end to any Joyce celebrations with an emotive reading of Molly Bloom's soliloquy.
Listen in to the Embassy's podcast to hear each of the performances in full.