The Bloomsday idea was created in 1954 by several Irish notables including Brian O'Nolan and Patrick Kavanagh along with critic John Ryan.

Today there are plenty of events celebrating and recreating some of the routes from the book which is set during one day, the 16th of June 1904. From the Martello Tower in Sandycove (the opening scene) to Ringsend; pubs such as Davy Byrne's where Leopold Bloom, the books's protagonist, stops for a gorgonzola cheese sandwich and a glass of Burgundy to Howth and further afield. Trieste in northern Italy also has a Joyce museum and plenty of events, unlikely as it may seem but Joyce and his wife Nora Barnacle moved to Trieste and that is where the book was conceived and written.

The city is usually full of characters wearing period costume dress and following in at least some of the footsteps of the characters.