• Sanctuary

  • The True Story of an Irish Village, a Man Who Lost His Way, and the Rescue Donkeys That Led Him Home
  • By: Patrick Barrett, Susy Flory
  • Narrated by: Gary Furlong
  • Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (29 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Sanctuary  By  cover art

Sanctuary

By: Patrick Barrett, Susy Flory
Narrated by: Gary Furlong
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $15.56

Buy for $15.56

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

For decades, his family rescued lost and forgotten donkeys in the Irish countryside.
He had no idea that one day, the donkeys would rescue him.

Patrick Barrett grew up on the back of a donkey. In the small village of Liscarroll, the young boy helped his family run a sanctuary for abandoned and abused donkeys. Struggling in school, Patrick only felt truly accepted in the presence of these funny, fuzzy, touching animals. It was like magic, how he and the donkeys understood each other. He became a true “donkey whisperer” - reading their body language, communicating with them in ways they could understand, and teaching himself how to “speak” in their distinctive calls.

But when Patrick was of age, he shipped out with the Irish Army and encountered unimaginable wartime horrors in Lebanon and Kosovo. In the aftermath, he returned home a broken man, sinking into the depths of PTSD and addictions. He believed nothing could save him. But he hadn’t counted on the donkeys.

Sanctuary is the remarkable true story of how faith turned one lost man’s life around with the help of the rescue animals who loved him. It’s an antidote to despair and a call to hope, revealing the beauty and wonder of Ireland as you’ve never seen it before.

©2021 Patrick Barrett, Susy Flory. All rights reserved. (P)2022 One Audiobooks

More from the same

What listeners say about Sanctuary

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    22
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    21
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    20
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A tale full of hope

Sometimes people wake up and change for the better. This story is about a man who loses his way but comes home again and finally sees the goodness of the world around him. I also loved the donkeys. This is a great story for anyone who has struggled with alcohol addiction. There is a solution.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Encouraging and inspiring

Such an encouragement for anyone who has struggled with strongholds that seem too difficult to overcome, but for the grace of God.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So good

I really enjoyed this book! The story was told in such a pleasant writing voice. I felt really connected to the story and could see the places in my mind. I loved all the donkey connections and analogies.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent! I give it four stars all around.

It's about temptation, falling away, redemption, PTSD, relationships, love of God, people, and animals (especially donkeys), and empathy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Animal therapy

Animals can be powerful therapy. I enjoyed how this book was an example. Would have liked to see more of how that process worked for Patrick.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very compelling story

So unexpected! This book was very different from what I expected. I absolutely loved it. I recommend it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Too much focus on the authors asinine behavior

Would have liked more of the book to be about the donkeys and much less about Patrick’s asinine behavior

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!