An Irish Country Doctor

A Novel

By: Patrick Taylor

Narrated by: John Keating

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

An Irish Country Doctor from bestselling author Patick Taylor is a charming and engrossing tale that will captivate listeners from the very first word—and leave them yearning to visit the Irish countryside of days gone by.

Barry Laverty, M.B., can barely find the village of Ballybucklebo on a map when he first sets out to seek gainful employment there, but already he knows that there is nowhere he would rather live than in the emerald hills and dales of Northern Ireland. The proud owner of a spanking-new medical degree and little else in the way of worldly possessions, Barry jumps at the chance to secure a position as an assistant in a small rural practice.

At least until he meets Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly.

The older physician, whose motto is to never let the patients get the upper hand, has his own way of doing things. At first, Barry can't decide if the pugnacious O'Reilly is the biggest charlatan he has ever met, or the best teacher he could ever hope for. Through O'Reilly Barry soon gets to know all of the village's colorful and endearing residents, including:

A malingering Major and his equally hypochondriacal wife;

An unwed servant girl, who refuses to divulge the father of her upcoming baby;

A slightly daft old couple unable to marry for lack of a roof;

And a host of other eccentric characters who make every day an education for the inexperienced young doctor.

Ballybucklebo is long way from Belfast, and Barry is quick to discover that he still has a lot to learn about the quirks and traditions of country life. But with pluck and compassion and only the slightest touch of blarney, he will find out more about life—and love—than he ever imagined back in medical school.

©2004, 2007 Patrick Taylor (P)2009 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Narrator John Keating has a field day with the humor, long-winded stories, and colorful accents...[Keating] skillfully presents the unique and sometimes-hilarious Irish take on joy, sorrow, illness, and death.” —AudioFile

“Welcome to the colorful Northern Ireland community of Ballybucklebo where there's always something brewing beneath the Village's deceptively sleepy surface. Fans of Karon's Mitford series will enjoy this.” —Smoky Mountain Sentinel

Delightful

This is a delightful slice of Irish life. The narrator was wonderful. His rich brogue made the text come alive. An innocent, charming respite.

Language

I hate having to listen or read the "f"
word. I'm beginning to think many current authors don't have a good command of the English language if that is the only word they can fit into sentences. Seriously, use your imagination!

Entertainment At It's Best

A great novel, with characters that feel like friends. A writer and a group of colorful cast members that will have you thinking about life and all it has to offer and coming back for more time and time again!

The reader is excellent. His development of the different personalities in this book make it one of the best books I've read in a long time. Well worth it!

Easy Listening

Uncomplicated story with descriptive passages of rural Ireland's peoples and countryside in the nineteen sixties. Good holiday reading. Thank you.

What an entertaining listening experience!

This is a delightful story that will make you laugh out loud- but it will also give you a lump in your throat. The enchanting accent of the reader enriches the listening experience. This book will banish the blues.

A really fun listen

What did you love best about An Irish Country Doctor?

I'm only about 10% through this book but am finding the characters totally engaging

What other book might you compare An Irish Country Doctor to and why?

The James Harriot books. Similar because of the interesting, down-to-earth characters and country settings.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I smiled a lot

For all the Romantics........

What did you love best about An Irish Country Doctor?

It is the typical 'feel good' story i.e more laughs than tears!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Doctor O'Rielly. He is perfect!

Which character – as performed by John Keating – was your favorite?

I thought that his portrayal of 'Kinky' and Dr O'Rielly was excellent.

Enjoyable novel

Enjoyable stories, characterization and performance. it is well worth a listen for anyone enjoying Irish story, dialect and characters.

cute story!

An Irish Country Doctor is a feel good story. Parts are predictable, but in a satisfying way. It gives a bit of insight into rural life after World War II.

If you need a smile

Would you listen to An Irish Country Doctor again? Why?

Yes I would...........the story was heart warming, it draws you in to the people, their love fear and triumphs are well understood. There are moments when I am laughing out loud and everyone is looking at me wondering why.

What about John Keating’s performance did you like?

Marvelous......He brought the book alive

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh, cry and sighed