Concert

6 February 2026 at 6.30pm

The James Joyce Centre was delighted to host the premiere of 18 More Ballads after James Joyce’s Ulysses Volume II by Val O’Donnell on Friday, 6th February at 6.30pm.

Adding to the success of his 2024 18 Ballads from James Joyce’s Ulysses, Val is at it again with 18 more vibrant, playful and engrossing ballads set to airs of music referred to in Ulysses and Joyce’s other work. It includes short quotes from Joyce’s work, a note on the music and suggestions for accessing the original sheet music and performances of the airs chosen for the ballads.

Although there are about 700 songs referenced in Ulysses, only a few songs are actually performed by the characters. Only one of the episodes – ‘Sirens,’ which is set in the saloon bar of the old Ormond Hotel – is the setting for an informal afternoon concert. Even then, we only hear snatches of the music being sung. Val thought it would be a good idea to give a musical voice to some of the characters and to set their ballads to music associated with Joyce.

After the inaugural performance in 2024 and another in 2025, the James Joyce Centre was honoured to host the third.

Copies of 18 More Ballads are on sale in our giftshop and are available for shipping. The book was published by Printwell Books.

Our special thanks to Val, Sinéad Murphy, Joe Ryder, Andrew Basquille and Darina Gallgher for their wonderful performances.

About Val
Val O’Donnell has a connection with the theatre for over 50 years as an actor, director and adaptor of Irish literature.

In 2011, Val established The JoyceStagers Theatre Company to perform his adaptations from the works of James Joyce. The JoyceStagers have performed “The Funeral of Paddy Dignam,” adapted by Val from the 6th episode of Ulysses, annually on Bloomsday at Glasnevin Cemetary. They have also performed his adaptations from Episodes 8, 12, and 16 at various locations in Dublin during the Bloomsday Festival. Val has a lifelong interest in music and plays piano. Email him at [email protected].

The James Joyce Centre is supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.