“We’re a capital couple are Bloom and I.
He brightens the earth, I polish the sky.”
Ulysses, J. Joyce (1922)
It’s fair to say that most people would consider Joyce’s works to be be “challenging” reads!
Whether you’re a Joycean novice or a scholar, hearing Joyce’s novels read aloud can bring the text to life in a new way and is considered by some as the best way to experience Joyce’s words.
Sweny’s holds a number of readings of Ulysses and other works by James Joyce throughout the week.
In each of our reading groups we read and discuss a section of the novel each week, and if you’re lucky there may even be a biscuit to go with your cup of tea afterwards!
Places are limited, so we recommend arriving early. If you have any queries about the reading groups, please do get in touch.
Our current reading groups
| Day | Time | What we’re reading |
| Monday | 1 pm-2 pm | Finnegans Wake |
| Tuesday | 1 pm-2 pm | Dubliners |
| Tuesday | 2 pm-3 pm | Ulisses Español |
| Wednesday | 1 pm-2 pm | A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man |
| Thursday | 1 pm-2 pm | Dubliners |
| Thursday | 7 pm- 9 pm | Ulysses |
| Friday | 1 pm-2 pm | Dubliners |
| Saturday | 11 am-1 pm | Ulysses |
| Saturday | 3- 4:30 pm | Ulisses Português* |
| Saturday | 6:30- 8 pm | Ulysse Français (Supported by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature)* |
| Sunday | 2 pm | Ulysse Deutsch* |
| Sunday | 3 – 4:30 pm | Ulisse Italiano (Supported by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature)* |
| Sunday | 6-8 pm | Finnegans Wake (in Joycish) |
| *Have a listen to an excerpt in the ‘Listen’ section on our site HERE | ||
We can also facilitate private readings for groups (max group size 20) by arrangement. Please contact us HERE.