Richard Ryan
@bookshopguy.bsky.social
Self-employed Belfast bookworm, early musick enthusiast, amateur birder, out-of-retirement organist and long suffering Spurs fan.
I went to see ‘The Blind Fiddler’ by Marie Jones in the Lyric Theatre this week, and I’m still thinking about it. And today in The Irish Times, there’s this- the very scene the play starts with! I doubt I’d do this pilgrimage myself, but how special it sounds.
What an utter joy #Fleadh26 has been, and an honour to have spent a part of it in the company of @volunteernow.bsky.social and the assembled 1300 strong team. See you next year!
In County Roscommon for a few days and got to pay homage to one Turlough O’Carolan- who is the reason my love of early music and Irish trad combine!
I needed to take some time out this week. We all do! So by the shores of Belfast Lough, I completed not one but two of my current reads. #booksky
Maggie O’Farrell being superbly interviewed by Jan Carson tonight on the Belfast leg of her UK and Ireland ‘Land’ tour.
A little thing I’ve written in preparation for the service to come. Happy Pentecost!
Songs of the Spirit
Hymns for Pentecost Sunday
open.substack.com
It was ‘Good Shepherd’ Sunday in church today. Everything was sheep related. The readings, the sermon, the hymns. So my organ voluntary at the end was the theme from Babe!
a man in a suit and hat is standing in front of some trees .
ALT: a man in a suit and hat is standing in front of some trees .
media.tenor.com
Good morning! A 45-minute retreat before whatever this day has in store shows itself fully. May the day be kind on you too.
Had the most amazing trip down to @granardbooktown.bsky.social to hear Guy Stagg speaking about his latest book on the importance of retreats, which in many ways this visit felt like in itself! Such a special wee town and festival.
Growing to love the Emmaus story more and more every time I hear it. Their eyes were closed but their hearts burned!
A mixed bag of books during March, including a first read of Lord of the Flies.
Don’t laugh at me for this, but I’m reading Lord of the Flies for the first time to our eldest. I know nothing about it. Never studied it, don’t know what’s about to unfold, but we got to the bit last night when we found out why it’s called Lord of the Flies, and I genuinely gasped and shuddered!
I’m reading a 31 day devotional based on Irish blessings. Today’s made me chuckle. Happy St Patrick’s Day
Agree or disagree as you will, but this is quite the list! www.premierchristianity.com/features/100...
100 books that changed the Church
With the help of a team of experts, data from publishers and listeners to Premier Christian Radio, we present your definitive guide to the titles which have most shaped the faith of the UK Church
premierchristianity.com
The hype surrounding The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is well founded. What an outstanding read it is! #BookSky
As a bookseller I am of course very biased and pleased to see this, though there is room for them all. At the end of the day, we just want to see people reading books, by whatever means! #booksky m.independent.ie/entertainmen...
Printed books are more popular than e-books and audiobooks, survey finds
Printed books are significantly more popular than audio and e-books in Ireland, according to a new survey.
m.independent.ie
On what would’ve been his 70th birthday, words from John O’Donohue for new beginnings- ‘Though your destination is not yet clear You can trust the promise of this opening; Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning That is at one with your life's desire.’
On the fifth day of Christmas, our local shopping centre was still banging out the festive songs. Normally I’ve had enough of them by now, but today, it put a big smile on my face.
Me in full flow last night during the midnight Eucharist, tackling ‘that’ chord in O Come all ye faithful, with claw like precision!!
I’m reading Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising to our eldest. I love the Christmas Eve chapter. Full of wonderful homely cheer from another era. Couldn’t resist singing Good King Wenceslas rather than reading it! #BookSky
