Dublin is celebrating the 100th anniversary of James Joyce's Ulysses, the world's most highly acclaimed modern novel.
On this day in 1904, Stephen Dedalus and Leopold Bloom each took their epic journeys through Dublin and today thousands of Joyceans and revellers will celebrate Bloomsday at dozens of events around the city.
Bloom relished "the inner organs of beasts and fowls" and Joyce enthusiasts around the world will partake in a similar breakfast today. The James Joyce centre in North Georges St will hold a traditional Bloomsday breakfast, which will be attended by President Mary McAleese.
Breakfast diners will be entertained by readings from Ulyssesby former TV host Gay Byrne, playwright Gerry Stembridge and musician Ronnie Drew.
The Davy Byrne's pub on Duke Street, where Leopold Bloom had a glass of Burgundy and a gorgonzola sandwich, is preparing itself for an influx of hungry visitors.
The Royal Hibernian Academy has opened an exhibition of Joyce-inspired art by internationally acclaimed artists, while 19 previously unknown Ulysses draft notebooks have gone on show at the National Library.
The National Museum of Ireland is planning to display an important Burmese statue of the Reclining Buddha from its collections, which was seen by Joyce during his time in Dublin and subsequently turned up twice in the pages of Ulysses.
There will also be a day-long street festival at the Sandycove Tower, which also featured in Joyce's book.
'The Parable of the Plums', from the Aeolus chapter of Ulysses, tells of two elderly Dublin women who climb Nelson's Pillar and spit plum stones on the citizens below.
To commemorate this event three parades will converge on O'Connell Street this evening with the The Spire of Dublin replacing the Pillar.
The hour-long event will involve a heady mix of giant puppets, street-performers, and a medley of sights and sounds from 1904 Dublin.
Bloomsday celebrations are also taking place in at least 40 cities worldwide.