To feel Bloomsday beyond words, like Molly Bloom in Ulysses, The James Joyce Centre in partnership with Instituto Cervantes Dublin invite you to Éire Flamenco Bloomsday, on Friday, 12th June at 7pm in the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM). Be moved by the artistic expression conveyed by bailaor David Morales and the rhythm of Salvador Andrades’ guitar, paired with the voice of Esperanza Soria. This magical evening will also feature the unique expression of Irish sean-nós dancing with dancer and musician Caoimhe Ní Mhaolagáin.
Intertwined like Molly Bloom’s origins in Ulysses, Irish and Spanish culture share their passion for literature and artistic tradition. With all the simplicity and history that flamenco holds, this show vindicates its history, its music, and its traditions.
James Joyce wrote about Gibraltar in Ulysses and, in Chapter 18, imagined Molly Bloom travelling to attend a bullfight in La Línea, the Spanish border town next to Gibraltar. Molly Bloom also felt a deep fascination for Spanish culture, of which flamenco is one of its most universal and emotional expressions.
It is especially meaningful that this flamenco group comes from the land visited by Molly Bloom in Joyce’s imagination.
Celebrate Bloomsday Festival in an event that will evoke James Joyce’s renown words: “Every life is in many days, day after day.”
David Morales is a bailaor and choreographer from Cádiz with a solid international presence. He’s taken his art to wide-world stages, standing out for his captivating stage presence and a profound expressiveness. He combines his artistic career with an extensive teaching labour, promoting flamenco as a universal art form.
Esperanza Soria, born into a flamenco family, began her Spanish dance and singing education at a very young age, building a solid career with the power and emotion of her voice. She was a member of the group Son de Sol, along with her sisters, with whom she represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest. Simultaneously, she has also consolidated her solo career, taking part in numerous national and international tours.
Salvador Andrades, Antonio Sánchez’s disciple, father to Paco de Lucia, is a flamenco guitarist with a solid trajectory, known for his elegance, sensitivity and deep knowledge on accompanying flamenco singing and dancing. He’s worked with distinguished flamenco’s scene artists, adding a personal touch that combines tradition and contemporary musicality. Moreover, he stands out as a producer and writer, creating great quality artistic projects.
Caoimhe Ní Mhaolagáin is a celebrated Irish musician and dancer from Dublin, proudly carrying forward the rich legacy of the Mulligan dynasty — a family steeped in music for five generations. Her family runs the iconic Cobblestone Pub in Dublin, renowned as a vibrant home for traditional Irish music. A gifted fiddle player and a self-taught sean-nós dancer, Caoimhe has cultivated her own distinctive and traditional style that captivates audiences worldwide. She is the founder of Ceol ‘s Cos, her own music and dance school, where she shares her passion for Irish culture with students of all ages across Ireland.
Tickets are €15-20.