Noel O’Grady, the much lauded tenor, entertained at the James Joyce Tower & Museum on Sunday – day two of our Bloomsday Festival celebrations.
He sang a selection of songs inspired by or enjoyed by James Joyce himself.
Noel (five times winner of Oireachtas na Gaeilge for traditional singing) has been described in the press as ‘the voice of James Joyce’.
This would have come as no surprise to those assembled to enjoy his wonderful voice filling the tower’s Round Room.
It was a real treat to hear the stories behind the songs that Noel chose and then to listen to his wonderful tenor voice bringing them to life.
And, what better venue could there be in which to celebrate music associated with the great writer? This is, after all, the place he chose as the starting point for his masterpiece, ‘Ulysses’.
Our Martello Tower was, for a while, transported back to the days of Gogarty when there was always Music at the Tower and it was a place of revelry and storytelling.
I have no doubt that, at a different time, Oliver, Samuel and James would be joining in in the chorus.
Thank you, Noel for lending us your voice in celebration of Bloomsday.
