ROME, June 23 (Labitalia) – Tourism in Dublin is being relaunched in the name of one of its most famous fellow citizens, the great writer James Joyce. Every year on June 16th, an event celebrating the achievements of Ulysses, the protagonist of his most important work, in a day, filled the squares, museums, theaters, pubs, and more, with enthusiastic visitors and volunteers in period costumes. Bloomsday may return after a gap of two years due to pandemic. As we celebrate Joyce’s 140th birthday and the 100th anniversary of Ulysses’ publication, 2022 has another reason. But, after all, it marks the return to the Irish capital as it has not seen tourists since the pre-Kovid period.

Marcella Ercolini, Director of Irish Tourism in Italy, confirmed: “Bloomsday is perhaps the most celebrated date in all literature, and this year was really special for us for two reasons: first, it’s celebrating the 100th anniversary of the publication of 2022 Ulysses. Literature has this vibrant energy and ability to involve many people from different backgrounds, cultures and countries, and it was also a reason to find a reason to visit the city and visit a place where there is so much to say from a literary perspective.

From the Joyce Center, which hosted concerts of songs and costume performances of the time, to the Molly Museum of Irish Literature, which opened just before the closure of Kovid, one day Ulysses’ atmosphere wafted through. , Rediscovers the locations of its protagonist Leopold Bloom. A series of steps marked with bronze plaques on the sidewalk, marking the movements of that June 16 that entered literary history. There are those who go as far as the beach resort of Sandikov on the outskirts of Dublin, where the tower stands, which became a museum, where the author stayed: a real pilgrimage of enthusiasts greeted with songs and recitations by volunteers. .

A leap in literature will not fail to pass through the Marsh Library, one of Ireland’s most famous libraries, where you can sit at the same table reading the precious volumes of Joyce’s collection: a ritual. Even the author’s attendance book is ‘certified’, still available today. To complete the day, Dubliners and tourists flocked to several theaters in the capital, offering shows such as the historic Smoke Allie Theater, created specifically for Bloomsday, where the stage was a review of another great work submitted by Joyce. His hometown, Dubliners.

“This day was the first sign of the recovery of tourism, a celebration of warm weather. Let us think of the 100th anniversary of Bloomsday in Trieste and a series of readings, including those of other cities around the world. After all, we remember Joyce as a writer who adored Italy, he also wrote in Italian, and he gave his children Italian names; There are also students who have entered into translation. The award was presented in Milan for a competition dedicated to Joyce, which started in March during the Irish week.

“We celebrated with great emotion and pride the extraordinary students who joined our literary competition with enthusiasm and dedication. We desperately wanted this as part of our first Irish week, because we believe that literature is an invaluable legacy that can accommodate those who arrive on our island immediately. The children of Milanese High School joined in with great enthusiasm and love for Joyce, which testifies to the strong connection between our two cultures. Irish literature has played a fundamental role in the evolution of the English language, confirming that Ireland is an ideal place to study at all levels, ”says the Irish Director of Tourism.

One country, Ireland, has, in fact, given much to the world from a cultural perspective. “Irish culture – reminiscent of Marcella Ercolini – has actually influenced many areas and human knowledge. Think of Dublin, the UNESCO Literary Heritage City, or Belfast, the UNESCO City of Music. Therefore, there are many ways to experience places in different ways, and Ireland has become a symbol of very different cultural aspects ”.

“In addition to literary and cultural events, there are many ways to experience Ireland from a perspective – he explains, for example, the experience of restoring authenticity with nature: there are many other cities besides the two major cities.” , We think of cycling tourism, horseback riding and many other trekking routes, including water trekking, which allows you to enjoy a little life in the open air while enjoying a vacation in complete serenity, and there are many reasons to return to Ireland.

The success of the public in returning to the exact event with Bloomsday is a testament to the recovery of an area that has been badly damaged for the past two years. “Tourism is making a good comeback: not only in Dublin – he underscores – the rest of Ireland’s bookings are going well, and we’re looking forward to the fall. With not only summer but also longer seasons, Italians tend to separate their holidays slightly throughout the year, which is a more probable and worth checking out. This is a very important factor because it allows you to visit countries even during off-peak hours ”.

Therefore, for the revival of tourism, the focus is also on seasonal adjustment. “Ireland is a country that can be used all year round: the first natural opposition to us – Marcella Ercolini agrees – is the weather, but those who know Ireland know that four seasons are alive. A ‘Now, the weather is very variable, but it’s never too cold or hot. So, this Ocean conditions allow you to change the weather, and events are never canceled because it’s not raining all day, or it’s scorching hot all day, so there’s definitely the right seasons, spring and autumn are what we recommend.

“We’re mainly focused on – Irish tourism director – activities that can be done outdoors, so the whole outdoor world; from a cultural perspective, there are always festivals that need to be attended because they represent the true Irish heritage: folk festivals, music, food, or what the world specializes about as Halloween,” he said. , But in reality it’s so, a Celtic festival of ancient traditions .In the fall, Dracula’s festival and horror return, and all fans of this literary-cinematographic genre can live with these experiences, a way to connect with local culture in Ireland. ”

“Because the innate sense of hospitality – he observes – is something that unites us with the Irish. All the feedback we receive from our travelers or fans in Ireland is precisely the last authentic relationship we build with the locals, despite the linguistic and cultural differences, they have always been welcomed as part of the local community because Irish they always strive for. Comfort visitors and share their reality. So, these are our strengths – he concludes – they are definitely valid factors for those who decide to stay in Ireland.