Last Friday, 21st March, was a special day for two remarkable women — my incredible Mum, Dorothy, and James Joyce’s wife, Nora Barnacle, who share the same birthday. I was back home in Dublin to celebrate my Mum’s birthday, and while there, David Corr and I took the opportunity to dive into some research and preparation for our Colours of Ulysses 2026 Event.
This exciting event is the brainchild of Angela Canavan, a dedicated patron of the arts whose vision has been the driving force behind this project. Angela has been instrumental in bringing this immersive experience to life. Thanks to her expertise and passion, the event will combine my latest Colours of Ulysses original artworks with Ulysses-inspired performances by David Corr and soprano Amie.
This will mark the first time my artwork will be exhibited on Irish soil, and to celebrate, I’ll ensure the first 100 Ulysses-inspired pieces are completed in time. It’s set to be an incredibly exciting event with limited space, so if you’re interested, be sure to join my mailing list to be the first to hear more.
Back to last Friday — David and I met with Ulysses walking tour guide John O’Carroll and Marr Cahill from the Ulysses Tower in Sandycove. A heartfelt thanks to them both for sharing their time and knowledge with us.
Our first stop was the stunning Newman University Church — a true masterpiece in itself, like so many churches in Dublin. There, I was treated to a beautiful acappella performance of Sally Gardens by David Corr and Amie Dyer — what an absolute treat!
Next, we visited the MoLI Museum on St Stephen’s Green, where Peter Dunn kindly showed us around. The Museum of Literature Ireland, affectionately known as MoLI in tribute to Molly Bloom, is a partnership between the National Library of Ireland and University College Dublin. Located in UCD’s Newman House, it celebrates Ireland’s rich literary heritage.
During our visit, we had the honour of viewing a first edition of Ulysses — an unforgettable experience. Since James Joyce himself attended UCD in that very building, we couldn’t resist recreating his iconic graduation photo by the exact same tree.
It was an inspiring day of connection, history, and creativity. Make sure to sign up to my emails for more updates directly to your inbox!