18 Ballads from Ulysses

Book Launch/Performance

8 October 2024 at 7pm

The James Joyce Centre on Tuesday, 8 October 2024 at 7pm had the pleasure of welcoming the book launch of 18 Ballads from James Joyce’s Ulysses by Val O’Donnell.

This collection of new ballads, based on characters featured in James Joyce’s masterpiece Ulysses, has just been published. The collection consists of eighteen ballads written by Val O’Donnell and set to airs of music which are referred to in Ulysses or in other works of James Joyce. The collection includes short quotes from Ulysses, a note on the music and suggestions for accessing the original sheet music and performances of the airs chosen for the ballads. Val O’Donnell thought it would be a welcome idea to give a musical voice to some of the characters that feature in James Joyce’s most famous work and to set their ballads to music associated with James Joyce and his works.Copies of 18 Ballads from James Joyce’s Ulysses are on sale at the James Joyce Centre for €10.

The event started at 7pm, with a short drinks reception followed by an entertainment provided by three special guests, who performed a selection from the ballads in the collection. The address at the launch was given by Dublin-born poet and writer, Brian Lynch.

The event will conclude by 9 pm.

Admission is free but booking is essential. To book tickets, click here.

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 around Bloomsday. Val has a lifelong interest in music and plays piano. Email him at [email protected].