Draumcondra’s Dreamcountry: 'Clay' & 'Eveline' by James Joyce

An evening dedicated to two stories from James Joyce's Dubliners: "Clay" and "Eveline," alongside a special presentation titled "The Ghosts of Drumcondra." This event features Paul O'Hanrahan as the actor, Michael Holohan as the composer, Amy Judge as the singer, and Breifne Holohan on guitar. The performance takes place on Friday, November 1st, at 7:30 PM, with entrance to the concert room located beside Our Lady's Seat of Wisdom Chapel at St. Patrick's DCU Campus, Drumcondra.

The evening will explore Joyce’s vivid portrayals of Dublin life, with "Clay" set on Halloween night in a house at Whitworth Terrace, adjacent to Brendan Behan's beloved Royal Canal, and "Eveline" taking place in Fairview, near Drumcondra. Joyce himself lived at 2 Millbourne Avenue in 1894, just around the corner from St. Patrick's DCU. He frequently wrote about these streets and local parks in his works, including A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Stephen Hero, and various short stories. The suburb of Drumcondra is affectionately referred to as "Draumcondra’s Dreamcountry" by Izzy in Finnegans Wake, reflecting the vibrant literary history of the area.

As a prelude to the performances, Amy Judge and Breifne Holohan will present "The Ghosts of Drumcondra," featuring songs related to the great writers who once resided in the area, including "Love's Old Sweet Song" by James Joyce, "Nora" by Sean O'Casey, "The Auld Triangle" by Brendan Behan, and "Raglan Road" by Patrick Kavanagh. Gabrielle Holohan will also share a brief story about the famous actress Maureen O'Hara and her connections to Drumcondra.

Paul O'Hanrahan, a Joycean expert and academic, has previously performed "Clay" and "Eveline" at notable venues such as The National Library, The Joyce Centre, and Farmleigh House, as well as internationally at the Portimao Theatre in Portugal. On the night of the event, original music composed by Michael Holohan will complement the narratives, blending contemporary ideas with the "old musical material" quoted by Joyce himself.

'Draumcondra's Dreamcountry where the betterlies blow' Finnegans Wake, p 293

Time: 7:30pm
Location: St Patricks Campus, Drumcondra Road
Eventbrite page: Linked here