Bringing Molly Bloom To Greystones

Joyce and Nora Barnacle’s wedding day 1931, with Fred Monro

atest press release from The Whale Theatre, issued on Tuesday, June 16th 2026…

In celebration of the week of Bloomsday and all things James Joyce, The Whale Theatre is delighted to host three performed readings from the Penelope chapter of one of Ireland’s greatest novels, Ulysses.

Sighle Toibin

Actors Sighle Toibin, Gertrude Montgomery and Caolfionn Murphy each bring an adapted excerpt to life from Molly Bloom’s wonderful soliloquy and transport us back to Edwardian Dublin on the 16th of June 1904.

From Molly’s teenage days in Gibraltar and sexual awakenings to her married life with Leopold Bloom (‘Poldy’) and her current affair with Hugh ‘Blazes’ Boylan, we enter her world of 1900s Dublin with all its conventions and religious mores. Molly Bloom is believed to be based on Joyce’s wife, Nora Barnacle, and some of her letters to him which certainly lent a dimension to his development of the character.

In her dressing room late at night in the Bloom house on Eccles Street, Molly reflects on her past and present, her life and her loves, and on the day itself. Our three dynamic actors each give us their unique interpretation of Molly’s various uncensored reflections, bringing her humour, frustrations, regrets and reminiscences to life.

Síghle Toibin’s formidable list of acting roles includes Noeleen McCoy in Fair City and Chrissie in Channel 4’s acclaimed adaptation of Maeve Binchy’s Echoes. Her directorial debut, Joey’s Christmas, was bought by RTÉ and Canal+ and won Best European First Film at the Brest Short Film Festival.

Gertrude Montgomery

On stage, she directed Niall Toibín and Des Keogh in critically acclaimed productions of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple and The Sunshine Boys.

Gertrude Montgomery has performed at the Abbey and Peacock Theatres, the National Theatre Southbank, The Project, The Ark, The Gate Theatre, Andrew’s Lane Studio, Fishamble: The New Play Company, Bewley’s Café and a national tour of Dickens’ Hard Times with Storytellers Theatre Company. Film and television include Any Time Now (BBCNI), The Clinic (RTÉ), and most recently as Barbara Quinlan in Harry Wilde (Acorn).

Caolfionn Murphy

Caolfionn Murphy first studied acting in London and France, at the same time creating theatre of her own, writing, collaborating, producing and performing in fringe theatres around London and acting in several independent short films. She subsequently joined Greystones Players and has acted in numerous productions at The Whale.

Content Advisory: This performance is intended for a mature audience and contains sexually explicit language and a historically specific racial slur. Age guidance is 16 years and older.

Happening on Thursday, June 18th at 8pm, tickets are €15, available here, and you can find out what else is coming up at The Whale here.