home salon writing writers university of adelaide contact 15th June 2009 - Bloomsday Eve In Ireland, and around the world, Bloomsday is observed annually on 16th June to celebrate the life and work of Irish writer James Joyce. His most famous novel, Ulysses, was set in Dublin on 16th June 1904, the date when Joyce first walked out with his wife-to-be, Nora Barnacle. Join us at the Crown & Sceptre, 308 King William Street, Adelaide - from 7.00pm on Bloomsday Eve for a celebration of Irish literature. A gold coin donation at the door will guarantee an unforgettable evening of Irish poetry and prose, with Irish traditional music to entertain you in the gaps. For details of readers, see below. Helen Mitchell Helen has had a variety of careers in both public and private sectors. She has also been a counsellor, a motivator and taught yoga and stress management for Helen Mitchell many years. Her last 'proper job' was teaching business studies. Helen's writing ambitions were on hold while pursuing these occupations, but since completing Honours and MA in Creative Writing at Adelaide University, she considers herself to be a 'born again' writer - she can no longer ignore the nagging characters hanging around in her head until they've taken life on the page. Helen's literary passion is studies of seventeenth century England and she is currently working on the skeleton of a novel placed in that time. Noreen Vereker Noreen grew up in Ireland and emigrated to Australia in 1987, carrying her love of Irish music and poetry with her. She has performed poetry recitations since she was a schoolgirl, taking part in many competitions but jovially admitting she has never won anything. However, this has not dampened her spirit to keep on reciting. As the wife of well-known glass blowing artist, Eamonn Vereker, Noreen treasures the opportunity to showcase her talents at the Irish music nights she and Eamonn hold at their glass blowing studio in Norwood. Blind Mary (Maire Dall) Mandy Treagus, Jane Copeland and Carol Lefevre play early and Irish Traditional Music in the ensemble Blind Mary (Maire Dall). Paul Wilkins Paul shares the view that Joyce himself expressed that his work would turn into a life time for his readers. To use that well know title of Marilyn French - Ulysses is Book as World. What also simply astounds is the massive 'conceit' of Joyce to convey one day of consciousness as the equivalent of Homer's epic! Paul is Deputy University Librarian at the Barr Smith Library and reads occasionally at Friendly Street Poets. Gay Lynch Gay Lynch recently submitted a Ph D in Creative Writing based on her research on Irish apocryphal stories and South Australian Irish-Australian settler-history. She has published short stories and academic papers. Her novel Cleanskin was published in 2006. Geraldine Crowe Details to follow... Top