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Irish Country #7
An Irish Country Wedding
An Irish Country Wedding is the seventh book in Patrick Taylor's popular Irish Country series - this beloved New York Times bestselling novel is now in paperback.
Love is in the air in the colorful Ulster village of Ballybucklebo, where Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly has finally proposed to the darling of his youth, Kitty O'Hallorhan. There's a wedding to be planned, but before O'Reilly can make it to the altar, he and his young colleague, Barry Laverty, M.B., must deal with the usual round of eccentric patients—and crises both large and small.
Being a G.P. in a place like Ballybucklebo often can mean more than simply splinting broken bones and tending to aches and pains. It can also mean helping a struggling young couple acquire their first home, clearing the name of a cat accused of preying on a neighbor's prize pigeons, and encouraging a bright working-class girl who dreams of someday becoming a doctor herself. And, if you're Barry Laverty, still smarting from a painful breakup, there might even be a chance for a new romance with a lovely schoolteacher, if her passionate political convictions don't get in the way.
Much has changed in Ballybucklebo, and bigger changes are in store, but the lives and practices of these Irish country doctors remain as captivating and irresistible as ever.
Love is in the air in the colorful Ulster village of Ballybucklebo, where Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly has finally proposed to the darling of his youth, Kitty O'Hallorhan. There's a wedding to be planned, but before O'Reilly can make it to the altar, he and his young colleague, Barry Laverty, M.B., must deal with the usual round of eccentric patients—and crises both large and small.
Being a G.P. in a place like Ballybucklebo often can mean more than simply splinting broken bones and tending to aches and pains. It can also mean helping a struggling young couple acquire their first home, clearing the name of a cat accused of preying on a neighbor's prize pigeons, and encouraging a bright working-class girl who dreams of someday becoming a doctor herself. And, if you're Barry Laverty, still smarting from a painful breakup, there might even be a chance for a new romance with a lovely schoolteacher, if her passionate political convictions don't get in the way.
Much has changed in Ballybucklebo, and bigger changes are in store, but the lives and practices of these Irish country doctors remain as captivating and irresistible as ever.
512 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 16, 2012
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About the author
Patrick Taylor
90 books1,380 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Patrick Taylor, M.D., is the author of the Irish Country books, including An Irish Country Doctor, An Irish Country Village, An Irish Country Christmas, An Irish Country Girl, and An Irish Country Courtship. Taylor was born and raised in Bangor, County Down, in Northern Ireland. After qualifying as a specialist in 1969, he worked in Canada for thirty-one years. He now lives on Saltspring Island, British Columbia.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/patric...
Patrick Taylor, M.D., is the author of the Irish Country books, including An Irish Country Doctor, An Irish Country Village, An Irish Country Christmas, An Irish Country Girl, and An Irish Country Courtship. Taylor was born and raised in Bangor, County Down, in Northern Ireland. After qualifying as a specialist in 1969, he worked in Canada for thirty-one years. He now lives on Saltspring Island, British Columbia.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/patric...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 446 reviews
July 29, 2023
“Helen pulled out a packet of Wills Wild Woodbine.”
James Herriott was a veterinarian, in Yorkshire, in the 30s, 40s and 50s, who despite the quirky nature of both his furry patients and their owners, loved his job and dearly loved the town in which he chose to ply his trade. Fingal Flaherty O’Reilly and Barry Laverty are family physicians, in the fictional Northern Ireland Ulster village Ballybucklebo, in the 1960s. Anyone who reads Patrick Taylor’s much loved IRISH COUNTRY DOCTOR series and doesn’t spot the similarities or feel the same overwhelming joy and warmth as they experienced when they read ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL simply isn’t paying attention. And the single passing reference to Woodbine cigarettes, for example, brought back a flood of memories of Tristan’s antics, Siegfried’s ne’er-do-well younger brother who just couldn’t seem to do anything right! That said, I rush to add that I make the comparison only to let potential new readers know just how beguiling and heartwarming Taylor’s series is. New readers need not waste a microsecond’s thought on the possibility that the series is derivative in any way. It stands very proudly on its own merits, thank you very much!
In an IRISH COUNTRY WEDDING, Fingal O’Reilly (almost 30 years a widower) heads to the altar with Kitty O'Hallorhan, the best friend and lover who he didn’t have the good sense to make his wife when he met her the first time around. Barry Laverty, O’Reilly’s young colleague just beginning his life’s work as a GP, also struggles with his love of young Sue Nolan, a very outspoken feminist and political activist who is doing her best to eliminate the discrimination faced at every turn by Catholics in the Northern Ireland hotbed of loyalist Anglicanism. Like ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL, although there is the over-arching story line of O’Reilly’s and Laverty’s lives and professional growth, loves, successes and failures, there is a string of anecdotal “incidents” that tell of the life of a small-town country doctor in 1960s Ireland and their close personal relationship with their patients – an ectopic pregnancy, a young boy’s broken arm, a middle-aged woman’s varicose veins that results in a mean-spirited termination from her employment in a clothing factory, a strangulated bowel – you get the idea! Then there is also the institutionalized misogynistic resistance encountered by young women who would presume to entertain the idea of entering the field of professional medical practice!
AN IRISH COUNTRY WEDDING is #7 in a series that now extends to a successful 14 titles and shows no sign of slowing down or losing its legs (woot-woot and thumbs up to a Canadian author!). Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
James Herriott was a veterinarian, in Yorkshire, in the 30s, 40s and 50s, who despite the quirky nature of both his furry patients and their owners, loved his job and dearly loved the town in which he chose to ply his trade. Fingal Flaherty O’Reilly and Barry Laverty are family physicians, in the fictional Northern Ireland Ulster village Ballybucklebo, in the 1960s. Anyone who reads Patrick Taylor’s much loved IRISH COUNTRY DOCTOR series and doesn’t spot the similarities or feel the same overwhelming joy and warmth as they experienced when they read ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL simply isn’t paying attention. And the single passing reference to Woodbine cigarettes, for example, brought back a flood of memories of Tristan’s antics, Siegfried’s ne’er-do-well younger brother who just couldn’t seem to do anything right! That said, I rush to add that I make the comparison only to let potential new readers know just how beguiling and heartwarming Taylor’s series is. New readers need not waste a microsecond’s thought on the possibility that the series is derivative in any way. It stands very proudly on its own merits, thank you very much!
In an IRISH COUNTRY WEDDING, Fingal O’Reilly (almost 30 years a widower) heads to the altar with Kitty O'Hallorhan, the best friend and lover who he didn’t have the good sense to make his wife when he met her the first time around. Barry Laverty, O’Reilly’s young colleague just beginning his life’s work as a GP, also struggles with his love of young Sue Nolan, a very outspoken feminist and political activist who is doing her best to eliminate the discrimination faced at every turn by Catholics in the Northern Ireland hotbed of loyalist Anglicanism. Like ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL, although there is the over-arching story line of O’Reilly’s and Laverty’s lives and professional growth, loves, successes and failures, there is a string of anecdotal “incidents” that tell of the life of a small-town country doctor in 1960s Ireland and their close personal relationship with their patients – an ectopic pregnancy, a young boy’s broken arm, a middle-aged woman’s varicose veins that results in a mean-spirited termination from her employment in a clothing factory, a strangulated bowel – you get the idea! Then there is also the institutionalized misogynistic resistance encountered by young women who would presume to entertain the idea of entering the field of professional medical practice!
AN IRISH COUNTRY WEDDING is #7 in a series that now extends to a successful 14 titles and shows no sign of slowing down or losing its legs (woot-woot and thumbs up to a Canadian author!). Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
August 5, 2023
An enjoyable entry in this series.
November 22, 2015
I love this series and this book was just as good as the others. I feel as though I am visiting with old friends. One of the things I love most about this series is the reality of the way the characters are portrayed. The medical parts are spoken of in a way that makes them completely understandable without feeling like I'm reading a textbook. The main theme, of course, is the upcoming wedding of Kitty and Dr. O'Reilly. Before that can happen there are all the happenings that a pair of country doctors must deal with. First is the illness of the housekeeper, Mrs. Kincaid. Kinky ends up in the hospital, leaving Fingal and Barry to muddle through on their own. But in the way of small towns, their neighbors are there to lend a hand. They do have to reassure Kinky that she is missed and that her place with them is secure. She is also dealing with the worry that things will change for the worse when Fingal marries Kitty. I loved seeing how Kitty manages to win over Kinky. There is also another run-in with the local councilman Bertie Bishop, when the doctors come out on top yet again. While Kinky is out sick they hire Helen Hewitt to lend a hand in the house and find out that she has dreams to become a doctor. This is not an easy thing for the daughter of a working class family in the mid 1960s and we see Fingal work his magic to help her. And then there is Barry Laverty who is finally starting to recover from his breakup with Patricia. He is getting to know Sue Nolan, a lovely school teacher who he likes very much. The only difficulty is that she is very involved in the politics of Northern Ireland and Barry is very carefully neutral. This causes some conflict between the two of them. He is also preparing to leave Ballybucklbo to pursue specialist training and comes to realize just how much he will miss the people he has come to care for. I am looking forward to the next book, though I expect it will be this time next year before it will be available.
December 30, 2012
Another good (but not great) installment in the series. Perhaps it is time for Laverty to move on and bring on some new people in O'Reilly's life. I wonder though if the next book will stay in Ballybucklebo or follow Laverty. If it does follow him, then I hope he stops his whining. The man is an idiot when it comes to romance and it gets tiresome. And while some parts seem to just repeat the same old, same old book in and book out, I still somewhere the explanation for O'Reilly breaking up with Kitty and then meeting and marrying Deirdre. Maybe he is saving that for another book, but that wouldn't seem very good timing to introduce us to her after he marries Kitty. He did make a brief reference right at the end about being more focused on his studies than Kitty, but still - why didn't he come back to her when he finished medical school...? Even though this won't be one of my favorites, I will certainly grab the next Taylor book off the shelf as soon as I see it in the library.
One last thing - he gives an explanation about including politics in this book where he hasn't before. I prefer it when he leaves it out. The village has a sort of timeless appeal to it, and I would rather not have the constant references to 1965 and everything that happened then. It is very well researched, obviously, but doesn't seem pertinent to the characters themselves, except for Barry's romance with Sue.
One last thing - he gives an explanation about including politics in this book where he hasn't before. I prefer it when he leaves it out. The village has a sort of timeless appeal to it, and I would rather not have the constant references to 1965 and everything that happened then. It is very well researched, obviously, but doesn't seem pertinent to the characters themselves, except for Barry's romance with Sue.
October 28, 2012
This most recent installment in the Irish Country series felt like something of a reunion. There it was, sitting on the library hold shelf with my name printed neatly on a that little scrap of paper. I half imagined the occupants of Ballybucklebo to be pushing their way out of the pages calling to me, "Hello, we're back! Fancy a cuppa tea?". How enjoyable it is to greet such old friends as they in the pages of Patrick Taylor's novels. The Irish brougue alone and colloquial witticisms are all there too, cracking me up and making me feel like all is right with the world. You know, the villagers of Ballybucklbo almost remind me of the English country folk of Larkrise to Candleford, just a wee bit more modern. I won't tell you the story, so as not to spoil it but will say that it's happy and the ending was marvelous. Tucked in the very back of the book are a couple of bits I've come to look forward to in any Patrick Taylor novel of the Irish country doctor: Kinky's recipes and the dictionary of some of the Irish words and phrases used in the book. Be careful to not take too big of a sip of hot coffee when reading those, for they are comic genius and will have even the stuffiest old geezer guffawing with abandon. Unles, perhaps, he's one of those who ought best to run off and feel his own head or something. heeheeehee
June 25, 2012
Admittedly, I was primed to like this book - I've truly enjoyed the other books in this series, so when I had a chance to read an Advance Readers' Edition, I jumped at it. I was not disappointed.
The main event in this installment is the wedding and plans for Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly and his first love, Kitty O'Halloran. Besides all of the wedding plans, the various inhabitants of Ballybucklebo are, as usual, having their own problems, successes, and life events that Drs. O'Reilly and Laverty have to deal with. First among them is the sudden illness of their housekeeper, Kinky Kincaid.
As usual, the stories all blend together seemlessly, and the characters are consistent - meaning that if you have read any of the previous books, you will feel like you are visiting with some old friends. For the first time, though, Patrick Taylor has referenced the fighting and civil rights issues that have been part of Ireland's history for so long. Dr. Barry Laverty begins dating the local schooteacher Sue Nolan, who is active in the movement to give Catholic residents equal rights in Northern Ireland. It becomes a bit of a conflict for the two of them, as she does not understand Barry's unwillingness to "take sides." I will admit to being intrigued to find out if their relationship develops more in later stories, and how they deal with it.
I did realize while reading this that I missed the book right before this one, so I'll be poking around to find that one and read it. I don't want to miss anything that happened in Ballybucklebo!
The main event in this installment is the wedding and plans for Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly and his first love, Kitty O'Halloran. Besides all of the wedding plans, the various inhabitants of Ballybucklebo are, as usual, having their own problems, successes, and life events that Drs. O'Reilly and Laverty have to deal with. First among them is the sudden illness of their housekeeper, Kinky Kincaid.
As usual, the stories all blend together seemlessly, and the characters are consistent - meaning that if you have read any of the previous books, you will feel like you are visiting with some old friends. For the first time, though, Patrick Taylor has referenced the fighting and civil rights issues that have been part of Ireland's history for so long. Dr. Barry Laverty begins dating the local schooteacher Sue Nolan, who is active in the movement to give Catholic residents equal rights in Northern Ireland. It becomes a bit of a conflict for the two of them, as she does not understand Barry's unwillingness to "take sides." I will admit to being intrigued to find out if their relationship develops more in later stories, and how they deal with it.
I did realize while reading this that I missed the book right before this one, so I'll be poking around to find that one and read it. I don't want to miss anything that happened in Ballybucklebo!
September 19, 2019
Re-read 2018
I can't say much about this book in the series, it has way too many spoilers. It's a good book in the series, but it's too involved in the village life without much of the 1960's medical drama's that are more prevalent in the earlier books. I understand that it's a turning point in the series but I think that Patrick Taylor focused on that too much and some of what I enjoyed in the books was missing. I still love the series and will continue with them as long as he is willing to write them.
I can't say much about this book in the series, it has way too many spoilers. It's a good book in the series, but it's too involved in the village life without much of the 1960's medical drama's that are more prevalent in the earlier books. I understand that it's a turning point in the series but I think that Patrick Taylor focused on that too much and some of what I enjoyed in the books was missing. I still love the series and will continue with them as long as he is willing to write them.
August 18, 2020
Really great book in the series. We have Dr. Fingal O'Reilly preparing for his marriage to Kitty O'Halloran. We also have Barry dealing with a potential change in not only his personal life (a new romance is underway) but his professional life as well. Things get a bit shaky though due to a beloved character becoming ill and who seems resistant to the marriage of Fingal and Kitty. Things work out in the end, but the book does drag a bit I thought at times.
"An Irish Country Wedding" has Fingal and Kitty excited to plan their wedding. When Kinky gets sick though, things go into a tailspin and Fingal and Barry are left with trying to keep the practice going as well as doing the cooking and cleaning at Number One. Fingal though realizes that they need help since it is going to take Kinky sometime to recover. Kinky though is upset about Kitty coming in and taking her place. As someone who loved Kinky in other books, she started working my nerves a bit in this one.
The writing is good in this one, but I think there were too many subplots going on. Kinky is sick, Barry wants to pursue things with Sue, but there's some stuff going on there. Fingal and Kitty are going to be married but they are dealing with Kinky's mood about that. Fingal gets overly involved in a lot of other things and so does Barry. That said though, the book was great and I was happy to read and finish this one.
"An Irish Country Wedding" has Fingal and Kitty excited to plan their wedding. When Kinky gets sick though, things go into a tailspin and Fingal and Barry are left with trying to keep the practice going as well as doing the cooking and cleaning at Number One. Fingal though realizes that they need help since it is going to take Kinky sometime to recover. Kinky though is upset about Kitty coming in and taking her place. As someone who loved Kinky in other books, she started working my nerves a bit in this one.
The writing is good in this one, but I think there were too many subplots going on. Kinky is sick, Barry wants to pursue things with Sue, but there's some stuff going on there. Fingal and Kitty are going to be married but they are dealing with Kinky's mood about that. Fingal gets overly involved in a lot of other things and so does Barry. That said though, the book was great and I was happy to read and finish this one.
October 23, 2012
Love has finally come full circle for Dr. Fingal O’Reilly and his reclaimed sweetheart, nurse Kitty O’Hallorhan. Finally willing to give up his bachelor existence, Fingal has declared his love for Kitty and is preparing for their upcoming nuptials. Unfortunately, the path to love is not smooth in Ballybucklebo…rather, it’s strewn with large boulders that threaten the peace of life at Number One Main Street. The world begins unraveling when Fingal’s longtime housekeeper, Kinky Kincaid, is laid low by a sudden disease requiring immediate surgery and prolonged recuperation. With her absence from the house and her growing fears of being usurped by the incumbent Mrs. O’Reilly, the two doctors must struggle along with their practice while trying to reassure Kinky of her importance to their lives. As country practitioners, they treat not only the physical ailments of the inhabitants of their close-knit community but also the social ones. Lost jobs, threatened ferrets, scholarship applications for (gasp) female medical students and house purchases are all issues faced by the two men who have become so enmeshed in village life. Barry, looking forward to his stint in the teaching hospital to learn the intricacies of obstetrics and gynecology, is slowly becoming aware of how much he’ll miss the community that has taken him under its wing and the great man that has become his friend. And, as he enviously observes Fingal’s promise of marital bliss, he struggles with his own personal failures in the romance department. Will a new chance at love be all that he’s been looking for? Or will the bitter politics of a torn Ireland get in the way?
Brimming with humor and heart and enriched by a wealth of historical, literary and medical trivia, this book lives up to Taylor’s established reputation as a masterful storyteller. It is the perfect addition to an already wonderful series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My favorite parts were probably the triumph of the two doctors over the schemes of councilman Bertie Bishop and the willingness of the author to touch on such tender topics as the acceptance of women in medicine and Irish politics. As a physician I also appreciate his skill in discussing serious and often complex medical issues in a way that's easy for any non-medical reader to comprehend. He makes medicine accessible to everyone, as he does with the Irish culture as well. Having finished it in just a few sittings, the book left me , once again, looking forward eagerly to the next installment (and maybe a further glimpse into Fingal’s most interesting past.)
Brimming with humor and heart and enriched by a wealth of historical, literary and medical trivia, this book lives up to Taylor’s established reputation as a masterful storyteller. It is the perfect addition to an already wonderful series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My favorite parts were probably the triumph of the two doctors over the schemes of councilman Bertie Bishop and the willingness of the author to touch on such tender topics as the acceptance of women in medicine and Irish politics. As a physician I also appreciate his skill in discussing serious and often complex medical issues in a way that's easy for any non-medical reader to comprehend. He makes medicine accessible to everyone, as he does with the Irish culture as well. Having finished it in just a few sittings, the book left me , once again, looking forward eagerly to the next installment (and maybe a further glimpse into Fingal’s most interesting past.)
August 2, 2013
I don't give five stars frequently, but I truly loved this book about the wedding of an Irish country doctor to the woman he met more than 30 years ago.
This is an old-fashioned (in the best way!)story, lovingly told about a group in the small Northern Irish town of Ballybucklebo, the latest in a series about an Irish country doctor, his colleagues, friends and family. I've read at least three of the series (somewhat out of order, I confess), but plan to read all of them eventually.
As in real life, although there may be a main story, with the focus of the wedding to anchor it, there are many vignettes nicely complementing the main story, and the characters are well-drawn.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I listened to, rather than read this book in print, and the narrator, John Keating, is marvelous.
I read a lot of crime fiction, and books that explore the darker side of life, and a book like this restores my faith in humanity.
This is an old-fashioned (in the best way!)story, lovingly told about a group in the small Northern Irish town of Ballybucklebo, the latest in a series about an Irish country doctor, his colleagues, friends and family. I've read at least three of the series (somewhat out of order, I confess), but plan to read all of them eventually.
As in real life, although there may be a main story, with the focus of the wedding to anchor it, there are many vignettes nicely complementing the main story, and the characters are well-drawn.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I listened to, rather than read this book in print, and the narrator, John Keating, is marvelous.
I read a lot of crime fiction, and books that explore the darker side of life, and a book like this restores my faith in humanity.
January 22, 2013
Very enjoyable Teared up a couple times. Looking forward to another book if there is one....
December 31, 2019
Love this series!
June 17, 2019
I have to admit I'm being a little bit generous with this rating. In truth, I would say this is a 3.5 at best. This is only my opinion of course.
I constantly tried to think of the right way to describe Taylor's prose. It felt unorganized, almost like the thoughts of the characters were all out of order. I understand this is an Irish book, but it was too much work keeping track of Doctor O'Reilly and Doctor Laverty's thoughts. At some point they were redundant because they had been mentioned briefly so many times. I understood Kitty made O'Reilly feel young, but how? That was mentioned a lot at the end.
The plot was much the same as the writing. It felt jumbled together, and I couldn't discern which Doctor I was following sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I like complicated plots. This just felt rushed. The biggest complaint I had with it all was the ending. After all of these side plots, they all just wrap up nice and neat in the end?
I know I didn't read the first books in this series, but I think I would feel the same way about the others. This style just isn't for me. I think my mother-in-law would appreciate something like this though. I will probably be giving this to her.
I constantly tried to think of the right way to describe Taylor's prose. It felt unorganized, almost like the thoughts of the characters were all out of order. I understand this is an Irish book, but it was too much work keeping track of Doctor O'Reilly and Doctor Laverty's thoughts. At some point they were redundant because they had been mentioned briefly so many times. I understood Kitty made O'Reilly feel young, but how? That was mentioned a lot at the end.
The plot was much the same as the writing. It felt jumbled together, and I couldn't discern which Doctor I was following sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I like complicated plots. This just felt rushed. The biggest complaint I had with it all was the ending. After all of these side plots, they all just wrap up nice and neat in the end?
I know I didn't read the first books in this series, but I think I would feel the same way about the others. This style just isn't for me. I think my mother-in-law would appreciate something like this though. I will probably be giving this to her.
May 27, 2021
So much fun. I love the audiobook version of these books because I can really get a sense of how people would have said things (I never got Kinky's "so" at the end of every sentence until I heard it). I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.
August 8, 2019
I'm in Lake George, and for the third year in a row, I have gone to the library and withdrawn all the books on the shelf by one author. Two years ago, it was Walter Kent Krueger's Cork O'Connor mysteries. Last year it was all the Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache that I had not read.
And this year it's all Patrick Tylor's Dr. Fingal Flaghertie O'Rielly's Irish Country doctor novels. I'm learning a lot about both "dear, dirty Dublin," and why James Joyce called it that, and the villages around Belfast in Northern Ireland. I like books with a strong setting.
I often laugh aloud because the Irish in both the North and the Republic have a "quare," queer, way of expressing themselves. I'm learning a lot and having affirmed what I already knew about the Irish, from whom I'm descended.
The characters are unforgettable. I find myself hoping that when I get back home, there will be more Irish country doctor novels on the shelf.
And this year it's all Patrick Tylor's Dr. Fingal Flaghertie O'Rielly's Irish Country doctor novels. I'm learning a lot about both "dear, dirty Dublin," and why James Joyce called it that, and the villages around Belfast in Northern Ireland. I like books with a strong setting.
I often laugh aloud because the Irish in both the North and the Republic have a "quare," queer, way of expressing themselves. I'm learning a lot and having affirmed what I already knew about the Irish, from whom I'm descended.
The characters are unforgettable. I find myself hoping that when I get back home, there will be more Irish country doctor novels on the shelf.
September 18, 2017
Love this series, great light-hearted book. I like books where you can grow with the characters!
August 3, 2019
Four and 1/2 stars. I am loving this series set in Ireland in the 60’s and this with a wedding at it’s heart was one of the best installments yet on audiobook.
August 21, 2019
"Love is in the air in the colourful Ulster village of Ballybucklebo, where Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly has finally proposed to the darling of his youth, Miss Kitty O'Hallorhan. There's a wedding to be planned, but before O'Reilly can make it to the altar, he and his young colleague, Barry Laverty, M.B., must deal with crises both large and small.
"Chief among these is the sudden illness of Kinky Kincaid, the doctors' housekeeper. With Kinky ailing, the whole village rallies to make sure the two bachelors don't starve to death, even as Kinky frets about being replaced now that O'Reilly is taking a wife. Easing the troubled housekeeper's mind is going to be a challenge.
"Being a G.P. in a place like Ballybucklebo often means more than just tending to aches and pains. A doctor might find himself helping a struggling young couple acquire their first home, clearing the name of a cat accused of preying on a neighbor's prize racing pigeons, or encouraging a bright, working-class girl who dreams of becoming a doctor herself. And, if you're Barry Laverty, there might even be a chance for a new romance with a lovely school teacher, if her passionate political convictions don't get in the way."
First, let me share this with you. Dr. Laverty is the best man at Dr. O'Reilly's wedding. An as such, he's required to make a wee speech. Traditionally, the best man's speech is the last, which gives him the opportunity to take a few pokes at the groom. And Dr. Laverty did a great job of it:
Another lovely interlude in the life of Ballybucklebo -- laughter and tears, happiness and heartbreak. And political skullduggery foiled by the good doctors. A seemingly simple (and perhaps boring?) plot, but you become a part of the life of the village, and it's hard to put the book down and come back to real life.
"Chief among these is the sudden illness of Kinky Kincaid, the doctors' housekeeper. With Kinky ailing, the whole village rallies to make sure the two bachelors don't starve to death, even as Kinky frets about being replaced now that O'Reilly is taking a wife. Easing the troubled housekeeper's mind is going to be a challenge.
"Being a G.P. in a place like Ballybucklebo often means more than just tending to aches and pains. A doctor might find himself helping a struggling young couple acquire their first home, clearing the name of a cat accused of preying on a neighbor's prize racing pigeons, or encouraging a bright, working-class girl who dreams of becoming a doctor herself. And, if you're Barry Laverty, there might even be a chance for a new romance with a lovely school teacher, if her passionate political convictions don't get in the way."
First, let me share this with you. Dr. Laverty is the best man at Dr. O'Reilly's wedding. An as such, he's required to make a wee speech. Traditionally, the best man's speech is the last, which gives him the opportunity to take a few pokes at the groom. And Dr. Laverty did a great job of it:
And contrary to popular belief, Doctor O'Reilly can admit he's wrong. Last year I advised him research suggested smoking is dangerous. He pooh-poohed that and on the same day went wild-fowling. He'd run out of matches so he took the gun powder from a cartridge, put it on a flat stone, stuck his pipe in it, struck a spark from a flint ... and blew his eyebrows off. When he came home, looking like he's just spent the weekend mining coal in Wales, he had the courtesy to say to me, 'Begob, Barry, you might just be right. Smoking can be bloody dangerous.'I laughed till I cried, and am still laughing, several days later.
Another lovely interlude in the life of Ballybucklebo -- laughter and tears, happiness and heartbreak. And political skullduggery foiled by the good doctors. A seemingly simple (and perhaps boring?) plot, but you become a part of the life of the village, and it's hard to put the book down and come back to real life.
June 21, 2021
Five things about An Irish Country Wedding by Patrick Taylor 4/5⭐️s
1. Loved being back in their present after spending time in Fingal’s backstory last book.
2. Getting a little tired or Barry whining about his love life.
3. Just realized I’m seven books in and only a year has passed in Ballybucklebo!
4. Taylor warns his readers that he’ll address historical politics in this one in a more direct way. I loved how he does this in the book. I’ve loved suspending reality and living in a bipartisan Balkybucklebo for all those previous books but also now that he’s getting a little more historically observant in this area. He mentions in his preface that while writing these books he’d also published gritty political historical fiction set in Ireland. Well…now I want to read those too! Patrick Taylor is definitely a favorite author now. 100%.
5. I started off reading this, but because life is so busy with the move and end of year and prepping for teaching Art Journaling classes this summer I moved to audiobook. The narrator of these is so great! I’ve also listened to Irish Country Christmas and am realizing they all have the same narrator. He’s GREAT! Highly recommend them as a cozy listen.
1. Loved being back in their present after spending time in Fingal’s backstory last book.
2. Getting a little tired or Barry whining about his love life.
3. Just realized I’m seven books in and only a year has passed in Ballybucklebo!
4. Taylor warns his readers that he’ll address historical politics in this one in a more direct way. I loved how he does this in the book. I’ve loved suspending reality and living in a bipartisan Balkybucklebo for all those previous books but also now that he’s getting a little more historically observant in this area. He mentions in his preface that while writing these books he’d also published gritty political historical fiction set in Ireland. Well…now I want to read those too! Patrick Taylor is definitely a favorite author now. 100%.
5. I started off reading this, but because life is so busy with the move and end of year and prepping for teaching Art Journaling classes this summer I moved to audiobook. The narrator of these is so great! I’ve also listened to Irish Country Christmas and am realizing they all have the same narrator. He’s GREAT! Highly recommend them as a cozy listen.
June 27, 2020
2020 bk 219. A really enjoyable visit to the Irish village of Ballybucklebo and a time about 70 years in the past. A book is so much more enjoyable when the publishing co. has done a good job of making a book readable. I thoroughly enjoyed the tale of preparations for a wedding, helping a young couple find a home, the various romanances going on in the village, and the story of a young woman who wants to be more than people anticipate. I love Dr. O'Reilly for how he helps not just the health issues, but really helps people to have better lives. He mostly does this is gentle nods, a suggestion here, a nudge to an employer, but all done with the ultimate purpose of doing good. A very enjoyable read!
July 20, 2022
I'm truly enjoying this series. Dr O'Reilly finally marries the girl he fell in love with 30 years earlier. His house keeper, Kinky, is having a difficult time accepting the fact that there will be another woman in the home, who she fears will take her place, and has taken some time warming up to her. She truly worries about that when she becomes very ill and is hospitalized but the doctors assure that she will always be needed. Dr Laverty is leaving to discover if he wants to become a specialist or remain a country GP. On to the next book.
August 21, 2022
This was as amazing as the other books in this series. This time around, Dr. Fingal O'Reilly is about to walk down the aisle with the woman he's loved for many years.
Brfore the wedding, there are a lot of things that Do.O'Reilly and Dr. Barry Laverty have to help their fellow villagers with.
What I found fasinating about this installment is how often the doctors were called on for things other doctoring.
Also, I'm so glad that Kinky finally acepted Kitty as Fingal's new bride.
I loved the wedding and how many people came up to Fingal to thank him for all the help he's given.
When we learn that Berry was leaving, i was sad. I'm sure he's in future books.
Another 5 stars for Patrick Taylor.
Brfore the wedding, there are a lot of things that Do.O'Reilly and Dr. Barry Laverty have to help their fellow villagers with.
What I found fasinating about this installment is how often the doctors were called on for things other doctoring.
Also, I'm so glad that Kinky finally acepted Kitty as Fingal's new bride.
I loved the wedding and how many people came up to Fingal to thank him for all the help he's given.
When we learn that Berry was leaving, i was sad. I'm sure he's in future books.
Another 5 stars for Patrick Taylor.
May 2, 2020
I really love the characters of this series, and I love that usually some justice is done somewhere ... and it's very gratifying! This didn't capture my attention as much as others, but it is still a wonderful story of Ireland, her people, especially small town people, and the language and culture is beautifully portrayed. And of course, the wedding is lovely!
December 4, 2025
How could a book about an Irish country doctor and his protégé in the fictional town of Ballybucklebo be anything but a slow and meandering read. The lovely Irish countryside full of interesting people, funny people and quirky people will keep you hooked.
Happy wedding Dr Fingal O’Reilly and good luck Dr Barry Laverty as you begin your new adventure.
Happy wedding Dr Fingal O’Reilly and good luck Dr Barry Laverty as you begin your new adventure.
October 18, 2022
The village Balleybucklebo is anticipating a long awaited wedding. But before there is celebration the village still needs doctoring from Doctors O’Reilly and Laverty. A wonderful read.
For the full review, check out my blog (link in bio).
For the full review, check out my blog (link in bio).
June 24, 2019
Once again, an easy, fun, cozy story of our friends in Ballybucklebo.
October 2, 2025
Another great installment in the series. I feel like I'm a part of the community and know the characters personally. Very much looking forward to the next!
March 17, 2013
Once again, I spent time in the Irish village of Ballybucklebo. This was the fifth book from the series that I have read and I enjoy my visit each time. The main character, Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly and his partner Dr. Barry Laverty serve the villagers as their GP's. The characters are so nicely developed that there are some who you love and others you detest. Everyday conflicts provide excitement in the story and keep you interested and wanting to know how things work out. You look forward to reading the next book in the series in order to discover how the lives of those living in Ballybucklebo have changed and how they are getting on. I think that there are only two books left in the series that I haven't read yet and this one was published in 2012, so I hope Mr.Taylor gets busy writing his next novel since I know I am not the only one who would be waiting for it. I would love to see these books become a TV series.
March 21, 2016
3.5★ I enjoyed this (as always), but not as much as the Irish Country book immediately preceding it (A Dublin Student Doctor - which I really liked). The author explains at the beginning that he has included more of the politics in Ireland in this one, and I’m not very interested in politics, although I acknowledge it is important to enable the freedoms we enjoy to continue, and to make changes for the parts of life that need improvement. I’m not sure whether it was the political part that affected my enjoyment of the book (but it didn’t feel excessive), or whether it just suffered slightly from comparison with the prior book!
January 8, 2013
If anyone has read the James Herriot series "All Creatures Great and Small", or watched the series when it was on PBS a couple of decades ago, or watched "Ballykissangel" or "Doc Martin", I highly recommend this series by Patrick Taylor. This is number 7 in the "An Irish Country Doctor" series. It's all about the various people,centering on the two doctors, in the village of Ballybucklebo in Northern Ireland during the 60's with two of the books mostly flash backs to the past of two of the main characters in the series. The books are heartwarming and fun.
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