About
Ulysses in 80 began as a simple idea: to read James Joyce's Ulysses together over 80 days.
Initiated by Clíona O'Farrelly at Trinity College Dublin, it first took shape during the pandemic as a virtual book club, with daily pages, short commentary, and a growing email list connecting readers. It developed alongside an early group of collaborators, including Deirdre Mulrooney, Loïc Wright, Carl Vogel, and PJ Murphy of Sweny's Pharmacy, and launched its first full reading on June 1, 2022, marking the centenary of the book's publication as it quickly opened to readers around the world.
Mark Sanford Gross first came to the project as a reader and later joined Clíona in helping guide its next phase, expanding the experience through conversation and a growing global community.
What began as a daily email and a shared reading rhythm quickly opened into conversation.
Each day's 10–15 pages were sent out and shared on Twitter, where readers responded in threads—asking questions, offering reflections, and continuing the experience together.
As the community grew, so did the places to gather. BlueSky was added, along with a dedicated private Facebook group—Ulysses in 80—where more than 1,900 readers connected around the book.
For those who preferred to stay off social media, a dedicated mailing list remained at the center—quietly holding the daily rhythm of the reading.
We began hosting weekly Zoom conversations with guest speakers—creating a space to listen, reflect, or simply be present with others moving through the book.
In 2025, those conversations became a podcast—Reading Ulysses in 80—with an archive of past episodes and a growing series of Open Mic recordings shaped by readers themselves.
And so it grew—
email, Twitter, BlueSky, Facebook, Zoom, podcasts—
And now, in its fifth year, it comes together in one place—easy to step into:
Ulyssesin80.com
A home for the daily reading, the ongoing conversation, and the community that continues to form—one day, one page, one voice at a time.
“Each summer, readers from around the world gather around U80 for a shared reading of Ulysses. I've been honored to take part, and I'm always energized by the insight and good humor the group brings to the experience.”
Clíona O'Farrelly
Clíona O'Farrelly is a Professor of Comparative Immunology at Trinity College Dublin and Chair of the Fellows. She initiated Ulysses in 80 as a way to bring readers together around James Joyce's Ulysses through a shared daily reading. What began as a virtual book club has grown into a global community of readers returning to the novel year after year.
Mark Sanford Gross
Mark Sanford Gross is a writer and community storyteller based on the Northern California coast. A former brand ambassador at The Washington Post, he joined Ulysses in 80 as a reader and now helps guide its ongoing evolution. His work focuses on creating spaces for shared experience—through writing, conversation, and projects like Write Up The Coast and Step-In!.