Lemon Soap

This is the famous Sweny's chemist mentioned in Ulysses into which the hero Leopold Bloom enters to collect a concoction for Molly,his wife. He is told that he will have to call back later for the lotion and he asks if he can also buy a bar of lemon soap which he is told may be settled for when he returns. He heads off for a Turkish bath a few doors along carrying his mystical talisman for the remainder of the book. The shop has been kept as it was back in 1922 and is run as a bookshop and a homage to James Joyce and Nora Barnacle. It is run by volunteers,one of whom,PJ Murphy is standing in the doorway beside the mannequin of James Joyce in the third photo. I was thrilled to be lent the small side window to display some of my petite pieces which are for sale. The chemist holds daily public readings of one of Joyce's books which at the moment is 'Portrait of the artist' and weekly readings on a Thursday evening, of 'Ulysses' after which the patrons retire accross the road to Kennedy's for a pint of Guinness to quench their thirsts!