This Victorian pharmacy near Trinity College has barely changed since Leopold Bloom stopped in on 16 June 1904 to buy a bar of lemon soap — a purchase that echoes through Ulysses. The shop is now run by volunteers as a Joycean cultural space rather than a working pharmacy. Visitors can buy the famous lemon soap, pick up Joyce's books, and attend regular readings from Ulysses held on the premises.
Sweny's is a pilgrimage site for serious Joyce readers. The readings, often free or donation-based, attract a devoted mix of locals and literary tourists. Bloomsday (16 June) sees the place packed for dramatic readings and general celebration.