'Love loves to love love': Dublin celebrates Bloomsday
For more than 70 years, the day has been marked throughout the capital with recitals and reenactments of scenes from the author's most famous work.
What was traditionally a one-day literary celebration on 16 June is now a week-long festival with multiple events, with this year's itinerary including a run and yoga workshops.
The traditional Bloomsday breakfast took place in Belvedere College this morning, where Joyce attended secondary school from 1893 to 1899.
Dozens of people in Edwardian costume also gathered at the nearby James Joyce Centre on North Great George's Street where the day is being celebrated in song and spoken word.
Among those attending the events is Indian columnist Mayan Austen Sofia who writes a daily column on life in Delhi for the Hindustan Times.
He discovered Ulysses during the pandemic and has written about his love for the novel and his experience of the Bloomsday festival in Dublin in a number of columns this week which have been published in the paper which has a print circulation of 18 million and further online readership.
He described Ulysses as "Dublin's Sistine Chapel" and says that since he has started writing about the novel a number of his readers have been in touch telling him how they have engaged with the novel.
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Irish Times
6 days ago
- Irish Times
Booker Prize longlist 2025: ‘alive with great characters and narrative surprises' says chair of judges Roddy Doyle
Kiran Desai, the Indian author who won the Booker Prize in 2006 with The Inheritance of Loss, has been longlisted again with The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, the first novel she has written since and, at 667 pages, the longest book on the list. Should she win, she would become the fifth double winner in the prize's 56-year history. Her mother Anita Desai was also shortlisted for the Booker three times. Nine of this year's 13 authors appear on the prestigious £50,000 prize longlist for the first time, alongside Malaysian author Tash Aw, who is longlisted for a third time, and past shortlistees Andrew Miller and David Szalay. Although there are no Irish-born authors on the longlist, Trinidad-Irish writer Claire Adam, whose mother is from Cork and who has spent many summers there, features with Love Forms. She won the Desmond Elliott Prize, the McKitterick Prize and the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award for her debut, Golden Child . [ Claire Adam on childhood summers in Ireland: 'My grandmother from Skibbereen lived to 108' Opens in new window ] The Booker Prize 2025 longlist Love Forms by Claire Adam The South by Tash Aw Universality by Natasha Brown One Boat by Jonathan Buckley Flashlight by Susan Choi The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai Audition by Katie Kitamura The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller Endling by Maria Reva Flesh by David Szalay Seascraper by Benjamin Wood Misinterpretation by Ledia Xhoga [ Love Forms by Claire Adam: A novel of cumulative force Opens in new window ] Roddy Doyle , chair of this year's judges and a former Booker Prize winner with Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha in 1993, said the novels on this year's list were 'alive with great characters and narrative surprises', which 'examine the past and poke at our shaky present'. He said he and his fellow judges – longlisted novelists Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ and Kiley Reid; actor and publisher Sarah Jessica Parker; and critic Chris Power – had spent seven months reading 153 books before deciding on their selection. 'There were so many contenders, so many excellent books, saying goodbye to some of them felt personal, almost cruel. 'The 13 longlisted novels bring the reader to Hungary, Albania, the north of England, Malaysia, Ukraine, Korea, London, New York, Trinidad and Greece, India and the West Country. (Forgive the list, but I used to teach geography.) There are short novels and some very long ones. There are novels that experiment with form and others that do so less obviously. All, somehow, examine identity, individual or national, and all, I think, are gripping and excellent.' Gaby Wood, chief executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, praised a longlist that championed global perspectives. 'The stories are set all over the world, and their authors, all of them writing in English, come from many different places too. There was an Indian writer, a Malaysian, a Trinidadian, an Albanian-American, a Hungarian-Briton and a Canadian-Ukrainian ... It's the highest number of different nationalities we've seen on a Booker Prize longlist for a decade – yet British writers are strongly represented too. 'While [the list] includes historical epics, brilliant formal experiments and a compact satire, many of the novels speak to the reader in an unadorned, confiding voice. This intimate effect, so difficult to achieve, was immediately appreciated by the judges, who are as alive to unshowy skills as they are to more virtuosic ones.' The shortlist of six books will be announced on September 23rd and the winner will be revealed on November 10th. What the judges said Love Forms by Claire Adam 'The divorced Trinidadian mother of two adult men is consumed by the loss of her daughter. Beautifully low-pitched, it reads like a hushed conversation overheard in the next room.' The South by Tash Aw 'To call The South a coming-of-age novel nearly misses its expanse. Set in 1990s Malaysia, it's a book about heritage, and the relationship between one family and the land.' Universality by Natasha Brown 'A bold, memorable and entertaining satire, it reveals the contradictions of a society shaped by entrenched systems of economic, political and media control.' One Boat by Jonathan Buckley 'A woman returns to a coastal town in Greece she first visited when her mother died. A novel of quiet brilliance, it raises questions about grief, obsession and human connectivity.' Flashlight by Susan Choi 'Deftly criss-crossing decades and continents – from North Korea to America – this is a riveting exploration of identity, hidden truths, race, and national belonging.' The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai 'Vast and immersive, this novel about a pair of young Indians in America enfolds a magical realist fable within a social novel within a love story. No detail, large or small, escapes Desai's attention.' Audition by Katie Kitamura 'An actress meets a man in a Manhattan restaurant who claims to be her son. This tense scenario established, the narrative makes a radical pivot that left us perplexed and thrilled.' The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits 'Twelve years after his wife's affair, Tom drops his daughter off at college – and keeps driving. A satisfying road trip full of strangers, friends and self-discovery, and a novel of sincerity and precision.' The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller 'In Britain's coldest winter, two women forge a friendship in the countryside. In beautifully atmospheric prose, Miller brings suspense to a seemingly inconsequential chapter in history.' Endling by Maria Reva 'Set in Ukraine as Putin invades, Endling features three women and an endangered snail travelling together in a mobile lab. Structurally wild and playful, it is also heart-rending and angry.' Flesh by David Szalay 'Travelling from Hungary to Iraq to London, and using only the sparest of prose, this hypnotically tense and compelling book becomes an astonishingly moving portrait of a man's life.' Seascraper by Benjamin Wood 'What seems to be a beautifully described account of a working day in an English coastal town becomes a book about dreams, an exploration of class and – stunningly – a love story.' Misinterpretation by Ledia Xhoga 'The story of a translator saddled between her Albanian past and her New York present, it blurs the distinction between help and harm. We found it propulsive and unsettling.'
Irish Examiner
27-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Where eagles flare: Douglas home worth getting your talons on
IN a property with no shortage of talking points, the most intriguing feature at this Moneygourney home is the sweeping set of steps that cuts up through landscaped banks to a small green clearing, where two sculpted eagles, wings flared and talons bared, are locked in mortal combat. Moneygourney mix of home, guest apartment and planning for three new build on grounds The steps and what lies beyond hold a profound symbolism for homeowner Mike Nolan. He designed them based on the final scene of Meet Joe Black, a 1998 movie where Joe Black (Brad Pitt) personifies Death and leads Bill Parrish (Anthony Hopkins) up steps that represent the threshold between life and death. Once crossed, there is no coming back for Bill. 'It's hard to let go, isn't it?' Bill asks. 'Yes it is Bill,' says Joe. 'What can I tell you? That's life,' answers Bill, in a heartfelt moment of reflection. Eagle sculpture at top of steps, leading to upper field. Pic: Larry Cummins The scene resonated deeply with Mike after he lost his beloved daughter Grace in 1999 to a genetic disorder that affects the formation of blood vessels, called hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). A year later, when he, his wife June, and their six remaining kids moved to Moneygourney, he designed his own Joe Black steps 'on the back of a cigarette box'. He showed it to Tony Garvey, the man who would become his landscaper and gardener for the next 25 years. 'I came here to plant one tree, and I've been here since,' Tony laughs. The tree was a magnolia — dedicated to the memory of Grace — and it has delivered magnificent blooms year-on-year, just as Grace's death has delivered hope to others, propelling her father into setting up a foundation in her memory in 2002, the Grace Nolan Foundation, followed by decades of raising awareness about HHT, while also raising millions of euro, through the foundation, towards the cost of researching the disorder, with the goal of finding a cure. Mosaic portrait of Grace Nolan hanging on the stairs of the family home at Moneygourney. Picture Larry Cummins Despite the great tragedy of losing Grace, Mike did not forget to also celebrate the joys of living. Many events were celebrated with family and friends in the great, big outdoor space between the rear of their home and the Joe Black stairway, easily able to accommodate a marquee. 'We had manys the marquee,' Mike says. Drinks were served from the outdoor block-built covered bar and barbecue and guests could sit on the built-in stone seats or on the Joe Black steps or at any number of seating areas dotted about the expansive Indian sandstone patio. It was one hell of an entertainment space, but you'd expect nothing less from a man who once ran a couple of successful bars, including Oscar Madison's in Kinsale, the Titanic in Cobh, and the well-known Oyster bar in Cork city, where he turned the upstairs room into a shrine to his hero John Lennon, before selling it in 2004 to the Rebel Group. Beatles artwork in the ground floor room of guest house used previously as a snooker and games room / mancave / recording studio. Pic Larry Cummins Much of The Beatles paraphernalia that he showcased in the Oyster is now on display in the guest house at Moneygourney, a roomy 160 sq m property, bigger than your standard semi-d. Previously a garage, it was knocked and rebuilt by Mike in 2013, the same year they decided to add a modern, zinc-clad, heavily glazed extension to the rear of the original Moneygourney house, which was built in 1995. Beatles memorabilia Among the treasures on the guest house walls are a framed cheque written by John Lennon to Harrods store in 1970; framed rare US versions of Beatles records and album sleeves; a photo of Eric Clapton and George Harrison deep in conversation, taken by their one-time girlfriend, model, and photographer Patti Boyd (there are just 50 copies of the image worldwide), and original 1974 pop art images of the Fab Four by renowned Polish artist Rafal Olbinksy, purchased by Mike on New York's 8th Avenue many years ago. Mike Nolan with Brendan O'Carroll, centre duo Amid the Fab Four iconography are photos of Mike with comedian Brendan O'Carroll. They first met through a football fundraising gig (Mike played League of Ireland football with Cork Celtic, Limerick Utd and City and Cobh Ramblers) and Brendan subsequently donated the takings from the very first night of Mrs Brown's Boys to the Grace Nolan Foundation, after the play premiered at the Everyman Palace in Cork. Mike later put in a couple of appearances in the TV show, including the 2013 Christmas special. He remains close friends with the actor who also came up with the idea for Dear Grace, a national letter-writing competition for schoolkids who composed letters to Grace. The initiative generated 10 books of Dear Grace letters over the years, with proceeds going to the foundation. Other elements of Mike's life are reflected in the guest house, not least his passion for music. The guest house was originally destined to be a gym and recording studio — it's sound-proofed and wired accordingly — but it morphed into accommodation for family members. A very large upstairs bedroom could easily be converted into two bedrooms. Downstairs, another large room could be partitioned into a home office and gym — there are two showers off it for gym users — or a home office/gym and third bedroom. There's a kitchen/living room too, where the kitchen counter is made from elm salvaged from the bar counter at Oscar Madison's. The pubs were 'hobbies' for Mike whose main business was Cork-headquartered QEF Global, providers of supply chain management. In 2013, Mike sold the business in a multi-million dollar deal to Park Ohio Holdings Corp, a Nasdaq-listed company led by Ed Crawford. Crawford was appointed US ambassador to Ireland in June 2019. A photograph of Mike and Ed in his ambassadorial role hangs in the expansive hallway of the main house at Moneygourney. Even with two substantial homes on the 2.7 acre Moneygourney site, the sheer scale of the property means they hardly make a dent on it. Both homes are at the top of a long, curving driveway with lawn on either side. You'd be inclined to think there was scope for more homes and planners were of the same mind, as permission was granted earlier this year for the construction of three, four-bed 2,800 sq ft homes on the front lawn. The planning grant and the existing two residences on the site are all factored into the €2.6m asking price. There's 2.7 acres with FPP for three more builds on the right and for the drive to be moved to the left There are copious rooms to choose from in the 4,000 sq ft-plus, five-bedroom main house, from the two reception rooms either side of the hallway (one is currently a home office) to the very generous open plan kitchen/dining/sunroom area, housed mainly in the rear extension, with doors to the patio. The extension also includes a large living room with a bar and music surround system, and an extra high ceiling and clerestory window for added light and volume. The ceiling height allowed Mike to hang a piped glass chandelier that he bought in New York the day the Twin Towers came down. He bought the eagle sculpture the same day at a knockdown price from a dealer convinced the world was about to end. The eagles have remained at the top of the Joe Black steps while the rest of the gardens evolved under the expert eye and green-thumbed guidance of Tony. The evolution over a 25-year period was quite dramatic: A photograph in the front hallway shows what things looked like when Mike bought the property — essentially a home plonked towards the rear of a sloping field. 'A garden must make you want to go around it and that's what we have done here,' says Tony. Pathways lead behind shrubbery to hidden nooks; a waterfall feature (switched off for now) was a big hit with the kids; there were acres to play on front and back, including a small field beyond the fighting eagles, great for soccer and trampolining, as well as being a haven for wildlife. It's conceivable that whoever buys the house will want to enjoy the land as is, rather than developing it, but another buyer might like the opportunity to build in a prized location, near the South Link road network and Douglas village, atop Maryborough Hill, where homes command a premium. Der O'Riordan of Barry Auctioneers says if a new owner goes ahead with developing the land, the drive will be relocated to the left of the site, while the main house and guest house will retain the full parking area to the front, as well as the fabulous patios and BBQ area to the rear, and the garden/meadow at the top of the Joe Black steps. Mr O'Riordan describes the Moneygourney home as a 'rare and splendid' property. 'It will attract purchasers who are looking for a large, iconic property with substantial, mature, and private gardens, set in the much sought-after area of Moneygourney. 'The purchaser will be a family looking for a larger property with space and character, or indeed families returning from Dublin, or coming from abroad. 'Because of the full planning permission, it will also interest an investor who can look at developing the three houses, with options for the whole site,' Mr O'Riordan says. VERDICT: The scale of the property, which already has two homes and planning permission for three more, is quite a unique offering, in an area watched by developers. Could sort out the adult kids' housing headaches in one fell (eagle) swoop. Location feels like country, but is close to Douglas village, with easy access to the South Ring road network and the soon-to-be M28. Public transport operates locally
Extra.ie
21-07-2025
- Extra.ie
Wimbledon influencer with over 165k followers is actually an AI creation
She has 165,000 followers on Instagram and recently posted images showing her enjoying the tennis at Wimbledon. But the 'model' whose social media persona became an internet sensation at the championships was actually created by AI. The posts on Mia Zelu's Instagram page were so carefully curated that they hoodwinked more than 40,000 people into liking her pictures and leaving comments in the belief that she was real and at the tournament. AI-generated influencer Mia Zelu. Over 150,000 people follow influencer Mia Zelu on Instagram, with the most recent post from her 'trip' to Wimbledon drawing 43,000 'likes'. Pic: MoL With images of her on Centre Court or enjoying a Pimm's, even Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant was taken in. The 27-year-old was at Wimbledon but discovered the account he had liked was a fake one and quickly deleted all of his interactions with it. The online comments by Zelu, who embodied the quintessential Wimbledon look of summery dresses and golden tan, reflect the language used by actual Instagram influencers. In one, she asks her followers: 'Which Wimbledon match was your fave?' Despite not actually being at the tournament, Zelu also remarked: 'Still not over the event… but the party's a whole other game.' AI-generated influencer Mia Zelu. Over 150,000 people follow influencer Mia Zelu on Instagram, with the most recent post from her 'trip' to Wimbledon drawing 43,000 'likes'. Pic: MoL Her creators, who remain anonymous, explain in a profile that she is an 'AI storyteller', adding she has a sister called 'Ana' with 266,000 followers on her account. Despite the clear indication that the account is not that of a real person, Zelu's followers still send her messages, including proposals of marriage.
