Myles Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

Fans of Irish literature decided that Brian O’Nolan, a famous Irish author, should have his own day, so Myles Day was established on April 1. This is a reference to the character Myles gCopaleen created by Brian O’Nolan. Myles, along with Flann O’Brien and George Knowall, was a pseudonym used by O’Nolan during his writing career. From late 1940 to early 1966, Myles O’Brian’s brief columns for “The Irish Times” were extremely popular with readers.

The background of Myles Day

Over the past 150 years, Ireland has proven to be a breeding ground for many creative writers, including James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, W.B. Yeats, and Samuel Beckett. In reality, the country’s literary history is much ancient and is rooted in Celtic poetry. Only Greek and Latin literature are older than Irish literature, which is the third-oldest in Europe.

The use of both English and Gaelic is a distinguishing characteristic of Irish literature. This interplay of languages is precisely what distinguishes the work of another famous Irish author, Brian O’Nolan.

O’Nolan, a journalist, novelist, dramatist, and satirist, composed novels in English, columns in Gaelic, satirical plays, and articles on thermodynamics and atomic theory that combined the two languages. Despite being one of the literary innovators who continued James Joyce’s work, O’Nolan distinguishes himself from the author of “Ulysses” in various works and public positions.

In 2011, O’Nolan’s centennial year, his admirers decided to commemorate him with an afternoon of beer, performance, music, and literature. The meeting took place at the Palace Bar on Fleet Street in Dublin, the author’s erstwhile “watering hole.”

The event was a huge triumph and brought together authors, admirers of Irish literature, and O’Nolan devotees. Even though it was a commemoration of the author’s life and work, the date chosen to honour him was the date of his passing. On April 1st, 1968, O’Nolan had a heart attack.

Before the 10th anniversary of the celebration, Myles Day participants were forced to interrupt their gatherings at the Palace Bar due to a covid pandemic. They resumed, however, in 2022.

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MYLES DAY ACTIVITIES

Organize a costume gathering

Some Irish authors are readily identifiable by their physical appearance. Why not gather your friends for a themed costume party and take a selfie dressed as James Joyce, Brian O’Nolan, and Oscar Wilde?

Become engrossed in the author’s work.

O’Nolan was a genius in the fields of surreal humour and modernist metafiction. His works are a delight for anyone who appreciates imaginative and unique literature.

Support your community tavern

O’Nolan frequented a variety of Dublin taverns. If you enjoy pubs, a great way to celebrate Myles Day is to attend your favourite local watering hole and sample the combination of beer and literature that the author cherished.

5 astonishing facts about Irish literature will blow your mind.

Irish literature began with the oral tradition of Celtic poets and storytellers reciting heroic verses and tales.

Irish literature comprises works written in Irish, Latin, and Scots, although English is the most common.

The Cathach is the earliest example of Irish writing, dating back to the sixth century and attributed to Saint Columba, an Irish monastic.

Joyce was considered a polymath who revolutionised Western literature with the 1922 publication of “Ulysses,” a stream-of-consciousness novel.

Additionally, Ireland has produced notable playwrights such as Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, and Bernard Shaw.

MYLES DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	April 1	Saturday
2024	April 1	Monday
2025	April 1	Tuesday
2026	April 1	Wednesday
2027	April 1	Thursday