Joyce’s legacy at Festival Bloomsday Montreal

Celebrating Irish culture and the spirit of Bloomsday in Montreal, until June 16

June 12, 2025

From June 12 to 16, 2025, Montreal comes alive with Festival Bloomsday Montréal, a vibrant, multi-day celebration of Irish culture, literature, and the enduring genius of James Joyce. Now in its 14th edition, the festival is not only a tribute to Joyce’s groundbreaking novel Ulysses but also a reflection of Montreal’s rich Irish heritage, with 40% of Quebecers claiming Irish ancestry. Through concerts, academic panels, poetry, music, and dramatic readings, Bloomsday Montréal weaves together the threads of history, identity, and community, making it a uniquely local expression of a global literary event.

Bloomsday, celebrated internationally on June 16, marks the day on which the events of Ulysses unfold. Montreal’s festival stands out for its inclusive programming and its focus on the city’s Irish roots, offering a blend of educational, cultural, and social activities that highlight the ongoing influence of Irish immigrants and writers on the fabric of Montreal. Managed entirely by volunteers and supported by donations, the festival is accessible to all, with many events free of charge and open to the public.

Festival Highlights: June 12–16, 2025

June 12: The Real Thing at Atwater Library
Kicking off the festival, “The Real Thing” is an engaging concert of sketches, poetry, and music arranged and emceed by Kevin Wright. With a cast of talented performers, the event dives into Joyce’s notes and letters, revealing the real-life inspirations behind the characters he famously lampooned in Ulysses. The stories—sometimes more outrageous than the novel itself—offer a playful glimpse into Joyce’s world and the people who shaped his masterpiece.

June 13: Academic Morning at Concordia University
For those interested in the scholarly side of Irish culture, the Academic Morning features current research on Irish settlement in Quebec and the latest developments in Joyce studies. Moderated by James Blackwell Phelan, PhD, the panel brings together leading scholars to discuss the ongoing impact of Irish immigrants and the evolving interpretation of Joyce’s work in a Canadian context.

June 14: Poetry by Candlelight at Le Café Bloom
Le Café Bloom in Point St. Charles hosts an atmospheric evening of poetry, where Susan Gilmore, Pierre Lenoir, and Kathleen Fee present verses by Joyce and his literary influences. The event promises a mix of lyrical, satirical, romantic, and comic poetry, accompanied by the café’s selection of teas, craft beers, and pastries. It’s a chance to experience the musicality and wit of Irish verse in an intimate, candlelit setting.

June 15: Irish Music at The Wheel Club
Music takes center stage at The Wheel Club, where Gabe Campagne and Friends, along with special guest Connie Kaldor, deliver traditional Irish tunes with a contemporary twist. The evening invites festival-goers to enjoy Montreal’s lively music scene, sample diner specialties, and connect with the communal spirit that defines both Irish and Montrealer identities.

June 16: Readings from Ulysses at Westmount Public Library
The festival culminates on Bloomsday with dramatic readings from Ulysses by local notables and professional actors. From Leopold Bloom’s whimsical conversations to Molly Bloom’s sensual soliloquies, the readings bring Joyce’s complex, humorous, and deeply human characters to life. Attendees are encouraged to drop in for an hour or stay for the full afternoon, with tea and coffee served throughout.

More details at bloomsdaymontreal.com

Why Bloomsday Matters

At its core, Bloomsday Montréal is about more than just literature—it’s about the search for belonging, the celebration of everyday life, and the exploration of identity, themes that resonate deeply in both Joyce’s work and Montreal’s multicultural landscape. Ulysses elevates the ordinary, chronicling Leopold Bloom’s journey through Dublin as an epic quest for meaning, connection, and home. The festival’s programming reflects these themes, linking the immigrant experience in Quebec to the broader human search for place and purpose.

As Joyce’s novel explores alienation, love, nationalism, and the quest for self-understanding, so too does Bloomsday Montréal invite participants to reflect on their own stories, histories, and communities. The festival’s blend of academic inquiry, artistic expression, and communal celebration makes it a living testament to the power of literature to unite and inspire.

A Uniquely Montreal Celebration

While Bloomsday is celebrated in cities worldwide, Montreal’s festival stands apart for its embrace of local history and its commitment to inclusivity. From walking tours and pub lunches to concerts and film screenings, the festival showcases the diversity of Irish-Canadian culture and its ongoing relevance in contemporary Montreal.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Joyce, a lover of Irish music and poetry, or simply curious about Montreal’s cultural heritage, Festival Bloomsday Montréal 2025 offers a welcoming space to connect, learn, and celebrate. As the city gathers to honour the legacy of James Joyce and the enduring spirit of the Irish in Montreal, Bloomsday promises laughter, insight, and a renewed sense of community—an annual reminder that, as Joyce showed, even the most ordinary day can become extraordinary.

Image courtesy of Festival Bloomsday Montréal