Bloomsday events taking place in Mullingar and Athlone today

Today (June 16) is Bloomsday, the day written about in James Joyce's novel Ulysses which this year celebrates its 100th birthday.

To mark the occasion, local events will be held at Athlone Castle at 3pm and in Mullingar at 7pm.

In Mullingar, tour guide and historian Ruth Illingworth is organising a Joyce-themed tour of the town.

Entitled 'James Joyce's Mullingar' the tour takes place at 7pm from The Greville Arms Hotel (adults €5, children free). For information, contact Ruth on 087 947 2583.

Ulysses is set in Dublin on June 16, 1904. The novel was first serialised in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, before being published in its entirety in Paris on February 2, 1922, which was Joyce's 40th birthday.

The Bloomsday celebration in Athlone is a free event which will involve fans of James Joyce meeting at the castle to explore some of the scenes described in the book.

According to Athlone Castle: "The literary recital will include readings from Joyce's Ulysses and walk with Leopold and Mollie Bloom on that one day, June 16, 1904, through song, readings and writings.

"Come along and join us at 3 pm, you might even fancy wearing straw boaters, pinstripes, ruffles, petticoats or even round-rimmed spectacles!"