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  • An Irish Country Doctor

  • A Novel
  • By: Patrick Taylor
  • Narrated by: John Keating
  • Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (60 ratings)
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An Irish Country Doctor cover art

An Irish Country Doctor

By: Patrick Taylor
Narrated by: John Keating
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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

What listeners say about An Irish Country Doctor

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Go back in time

A really lovely story with real issues, light and dark humour running through it This is a throughly enjoyable book. Im now starting on book two of the series of seven. What a lot to look forward too.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

I miss my newfound friends

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the 'goings on' in Ballybucklebo and getting to know the inhabitants.
At first I thought the narration was a bit slow and wouldn't hold my attention but soon it became perfect as the tone of the narrator's voice and the speed of reading added colour to the written word and I found myself planning activities so that I could carry on doing my various chores while listening to more of the story. An enjoyable story full of wit, charm and the deviousness of the Irish. I am looking forward to meeting my friends again in the next audiobook by Patrick Taylor.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it from the beginning to the end

A charming book from start to finish. I didn't want it to end. Full of humour and observation of human life. Well worth a read.

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2 people found this helpful

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

A Glorious Book

Good stories with humour and good flow. Great characters and takes of rural Irish life.

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

Another good story from Patrick Taylor

Love the characters, Patrick Taylor’s attention to detail brings them to life. Excellent narration.
My cup of tea.

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

Not my cup of tea

Unfortunately I got bored with the content i guess it was not my number sadly

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

Brilliant

One of my favourite books brought to life by a top notch narrator. I really enjoyed it. Brilliant.

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

A very authentic story of the beginnIngs of an Ulster GP’s career

Beautifully read audible book of the life of a small country practice. The senior partner is delightful and a perfect portrayal of many Drs of that time. His young assistant ably adding to the understanding and way of life at that time. Well worth the time spent listening to it. In fact I loved every word. Thank you.

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

Wonderful and gentle, full of humour.

very easy to listen to, highly recommended.
looking forward to the nd at one in the series.

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

County down humour

Where does An Irish Country Doctor rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I read this book many years ago and was well chuffed to find it on audio! Co down locals will reconise areas and humour. Its funny touching and a real good read! Give it a go i bet you'll reach for the rest.

What was one of the most memorable moments of An Irish Country Doctor?

All of it!

Have you listened to any of John Keating’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No but i certainly will again

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