An Irish Country Doctor

Summary (from the publisher): Barry Laverty, M.B. can barely find the Northern Ireland village of Ballybucklebo on a map when he sets out to seek gainful employment there. But 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 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 and a host of other eccentric characters who make every day an education for the inexperienced young doctor. 

Ballybucklebo is a long way from Belfast, and Barry is quick to discover that he still has a lot to learn about 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. 

Review:  The year is 1964 and young Barry Laverty has just completed medical school and is on his way to the tiny Northern Ireland village of Ballybucklebo to apply for a position as an assistant in a small rural practice. At first, the older physician with whom he will be working, Dr. Fingal O'Reilly, comes across as rough and appears guilty of not fully following proper medical standards. Yet Barry quickly realizes he has much to learn about treating patients and best meeting their needs. 

This was a charming story of a young doctor who has completed his technical training but has only begun to develop the skills and bedside manner needed in treating real patients. Along the way, the author introduces us to a cast of characters and patients. With time, Barry learns that trying to impress patients with doctor jargon only confuses them and sometimes practicing medicine doesn't mean a conventional prescription at all but instead means getting to know each patient individually.  

This novel provided an entertaining walk through Northern Ireland in the 1960s and was a pleasant escape from the real world. My only real disappointment is that most of the characters felt like stock characters - the gruff but secretly kind doctor, the kindly housekeeper who is quite skilled in the kitchen, the stingy old landlord, and the hypochondriac, needy patient. Even the main character of Barry lacks true depth as a character. Little is known about his childhood or family and one friend from medical school is thrown in just to prop up the story that he existed before he rolled up in Ballybucklebo. All complaints aside, I was charmed by this story, which allows the reader to be in the passenger seat as the same time as Barry as he embarks on a new career in a new community. 

Stars: 4