Fingal O'Reilly, Irish Doctor

Another entry in his Irish Country Doctor series, Fingal O’Reilly by Patrick Taylor continues his story set in 1960’s Northern Ireland. The younger doctor is off deciding whether he sees himself continuing as a general practitioner in the small Irish village of Ballybucklebo or whether he would rather specialize in obstetrics. Fingal, the senior doctor is enjoying his first few months as a married man.

As Fingal carries out his duties he muses on his past, his first year as a doctor working in the slums of Dublin in 1936. At this time he was also dating the woman who has now become his wife, Kitty. The trips down memory lane are handled smoothly and give us an insight into how Fingal and Kitty drifted apart. Meanwhile in the present show more Fingal realizes that he is both a very happy and very lucky man with his only concern being whether young doctor Barry will decide to come back to Ballybucklebo.

It’s been sometime since I have read one of these books and I enjoyed my trip to this small corner of Ireland. The stories flow easily and the author inserts plenty of humor. Many of the quirky characters that we have been introduced to in the other books make an appearance, and overall, this eighth book was a very good addition to the series. show less

It has been awhile since my last visit to Ballbucklebo, and being there again was lovely. This book hops back and forth between Fingal in his current life and Fingal as a new doctor working in the slums of Dublin. The transitions are handled smoothly, with each trip to the past instigated by something that is happening in the present.

In the portions that take place in Dublin, Fingal has taken a post as a GP (general practitioner), helping an older doctor in the Liberties section of Dublin. The poverty and disease there are terrible and Fingal feels a calling to help alleviate as much as he can. As we have seen in previous books, Fingal's personality is such that he gets deeply involved in the lives of his patients. I loved the way that show more each one was brought to life, making me feel as if I were standing right at his elbow watching what happens. Fingal also stays close to his medical school friends, which include fun times and also times of great intensity. There are also some interesting bits of medical history slipped in, such as the development of antibiotics and the enormous difference they make, and the later advances in cardiology, such as the invention of the portable defibrillator. On a personal side, Fingal's romance with Kitty continues, but it isn't all smooth sailing. In the end, we finally find out what parted them for so many years.

Back in Ballbucklobo, Fingal and Kitty are back from their honeymoon and settling into married life. It's really sweet to see how happy they are together. Fingal is settling back into his practice after being away on his honeymoon, and catching up on the lives of his patients and neighbors. Besides the day to day illnesses, there are a few more intense moments. A riding accident that causes a broken leg, a mysterious chest pain, and heart trouble for our irascible councilman bring a bit of excitement to the practice.

While Dr. Barry Laverty is away, studying to be an OB/GYN, Fingal has a temporary doctor helping out. She's a lovely young lady doctor, which has some of the residents pretty stirred up. It's a reminder that female doctors were few and far between, and not always readily accepted. I enjoyed seeing Jenny win people over. Fingal is torn because, if Barry elects to return to Ballbucklebo, he will have to let Jenny go, as there isn't enough business for three doctors. As he is a man who likes to fix things, he agonizes over what to do. There's an interesting twist to the end that solves everyone's problems.

Also running through the modern side of the story is housekeeper "Kinky" Kincaid's romance with the local milkman. Their courtship was sweet and I loved following along. There's a great scene with Kinky confessing her worry over what would happen to the household if she marries and leaves the O'Reillys. I also loved her sweetheart's conversation with Fingal near the end of the book.

I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the next four books and catching up. Some of them cover his time in the navy and I can't wait to read all about it. show less

This isn't a great work of literature but it is very enjoyable. Just the thing to read as winter sets in.

Dr. Taylor has now written 8 books about the Irish G.P., Fingal O'Reilly, who practises in a fictional small town, Ballybucklebo, in Northern Ireland. O'Reilly got married to his first love, Kitty O'Halloran, in the previous book to this one (which I haven't read). They dated in Dublin just after O'Reilly qualified as a doctor in 1936. Fingal went to practise with confirmed bachelor, Dr. Corrigan, who operated as a dispensary doctor in the slums of Dublin. Something happened between Kitty and Fingal and they parted until they met and married thirty years later. In this book we finally learn what went on in Dublin so long ago but we show more also keep tabs on the happenings in Ballybucklebo in 1965. It would have been helpful if the chapters would have had the date at the beginning. Sometimes it wasn't immediately clear if the chapter was in the past in Dublin or later in Ballybucklebo. However, that is a minor quibble.

Dr. Taylor has a great ear for the various Irish accents and that made it seem like I was sitting right in Ireland (wish I was). The Irish do have a wonderful way with words. I didn't discover until I finished the book that Taylor has included a lengthy glossary of the words that North American audiences might not be familiar with. There are also a few recipes from Mrs. Kincaid, O'Reilly's wonderful cook.

Very enjoyable. show less

Fingal's earlier life and main perspective gives these books a sweetness that I'm really enjoying -- far more than the Barry-centered ones. It's very very good to hear his life story, and the flashbacks work well for keeping the main plot moving along as well. Very nice.

I am so sad to come to the end of this newest Irish Country books since it appears fans will have to wait at least another year for the newest one in this series.

This novel takes place several weeks after Fingal and Kitty have married and returned from their honeymoon. Unlike in other novels there is not really anything that Fingal needs to involve himself with pertaining to the village. This novel flashes back to after Fingal qualified as a doctor and was working in Dublin while still dating Kitty and present day with him working in the village and adjusting to being a husband again.

I really did love reading about the working conditions for doctors in Dublin and how sad it was to read how the poor coped in tenement housing back then. show more Also it helped showcase how food and living conditions did impact what diseases the poor had to cope with.

Even though this novel focuses on Fingal we do get to see glimpses of Barry and see how he is liking the OBGYN specialty he decided upon undertaking.

My only complaint (and it is a minor one and not enough for me to lower this a star) is that we really don't get a chance to immerse ourselves in the new character of Jenny (the doctor who took over from Barry). I thought that was a missed opportunity since I would have liked how she thought of Fingal, Kitty, and get to see how she handled being a woman doctor responding to calls on her own. We do get to read and see how the village responded to Jenny and being a woman doctor but I felt since we did not get a third person point of view for her we were only allowed to see how Fingal responded to it.

That said, I really did love this book and hope we may get another novella in between this and the next full length Irish Country books. show less

This book is a great addition to a wonderful series, once I started it I couldn't put it down. These books are very entertaining, and I'm glad they were recommended to me. If you enjoy James Herriot or Richard Gordon these books are for you.

Re-read 2018
This book alternates between the current timeline of the books of the mid-1960's, and the late 1930's when Dr. O'Reilly first becomes a practicing doctor. We're starting to get some of the original storylines wrapped up and new ones beginning. The most interesting storyline for me was the small look into how a female doctor was treated as a General Practitioner during the 60's, both the good and the bad.

I am 'reading' the book as an audiobook. I have been reading the series for years now and like other reviewers look forward to the characters. The explanations of the medical jargon seem to get longer. Though I work in the medical field and am very familiar with everything, i understand why for the non-medical reader, explanations are a must. But they turned very long.

My main complaint with this book and the last as well, is the vocalization and socialization of the characters in the 1930s. It does not seem quite right. It appears to me that he used 1960s language, behavior and mentality and transposed them to the 1930s. It is just not quite right.