The SFMTA, the Irish Consulate, and the SF Public Library turned the L Taraval into a pop-up literary festival for Bloomsday on June 16 — and a follow-on event at the United Irish Cultural Center runs Thursday, June 19.

Monday, June 16 — Bloomsday — the SFMTA, the Consulate General of Ireland, the SF Public Library Bookmobile, and Muni Diaries turned the L Taraval into a traveling literary festival. Under the banner "Bloomsday and Beyond," free books by Irish authors were handed out and live readings were staged at four stops along the line: Union Square/Market Street Station (11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.), Forest Hill Station (1:15–1:45 p.m.), West Portal Station (2:15–3 p.m.), and the United Irish Cultural Center at 2700 45th Ave (4–5 p.m.).

The event kicked off on the steps of City Hall, where Mayor Daniel Lurie invoked Michael O'Shaughnessy — the Limerick-born engineer who built Muni's rail tunnels a century ago — as proof of the Irish-San Francisco bond. It was also the first Bloomsday celebration since the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously last March to establish an Irish Cultural District in the Sunset.

The whole thing originated in a handball game: SFMTA employee Jonathan Kibrick got the idea during a match with someone from the Irish Consulate. The organizers were admirably candid about the novel itself — SFMTA Director Julie Kirschbaum said she has started Ulysses "enthusiastically many times" without finishing, and Irish Consul-General Micheál Smith confessed he's only made two chapters on his third attempt.

If you missed it: A follow-on program, "Ulysses Meets Sgt. Pepper," runs Thursday, June 19 at the United Irish Cultural Center, 2700 45th Ave (Inner Sunset). Check irishcentersf.org for times and any admission details — none were listed as of Tuesday.