The Padre
The True Story of the Irish Priest Who Armed the IRA with Gaddafi's Money
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The Padre
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Narrated by:
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Jennifer O’Leary
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By:
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Jennifer O'Leary
About this listen
Today, Tipperary-born priest Patrick Ryan cuts a modest but strong figure, to the layperson. A man of God who has been entrusted with the confessions of hundreds of earnest parishioners. But in fact his story is dark, dramatic, and pivotal to Irish history, on both sides of the border.
In The Padre, award-winning investigative journalist Jennifer O'Leary exposes the paramilitary exploits of notorious former Catholic priest and active IRA supporter Patrick Ryan–exposing details which have, outside of his very guarded circles, been unknown until now.
Drawing on highly sensitive information, divulged by Ryan during exclusive secret meetings with the author, The Padre lifts the lid on the true extent of the priest's involvement with the IRA: from being the link between the organisation and the Gaddafi regime, to Ryan's connection to the failed assassination attempt on Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet.
The Padre tells the truly remarkably story of this man of the cloth, and his lifelong struggle with what he, in his heart, believes to be right and wrong.
©2023 Jennifer O'Leary (P)2023 W. F. Howes LtdListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about The Padre
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Caomhin
- 03-01-24
real life
interested in time period and how the whole conflict played out, hard to believe all that went on. the term IRA could have been used less seemed like every sentence had it in it, repetitive.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- MC
- 24-08-24
Poor Naration
I was very interested in the contents of this book. The history and social aspects were educational . However I could not get on with the narration. The speaker was too stifled . I could feel her reading each word one by one rather than letting the sentences flow. I had to really push myself to finish the book because of this.
I would rather have just read the book myself.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- dermot
- 16-10-23
Fantastic book - gripping
Really well told with excellent attention to detail.
Couldn’t wait to finish it .
Great that this piece of history is chronicled.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 27-08-24
Legend
Excellent book! Father Ryan is a legend, his sacrifice should never be forgotten! Erin gu bragh
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Rachael
- 03-04-24
Gripping underlying story but the telling of it a struggle!
Ok let’s start by saying the tale here was riveting and appalling in equal measure. Such a lack of moral compass in the subject, it beggars belief. Paddy Ryan comes across as a bright and intelligent man, with a great handle on reading people, also completely deluded and oblivious to the lives he ruined. His family’s inability to criticise him and their active support for his crimes was staggering.
This should have been a ghostwritten autobiography. It was told as a third person bio yet detailed his inner thoughts and minute observations. It jarred for that reason and if I hadn’t grown up in the time this happened I would have abandoned it.
The audio narration was poor - robotic, words mispronounced and speed and pacing all wrong - not fixed by speed adjustments in settings. Reading it would have been just as frustrating style and content wise but at least the narration issue would be gone.
That said I think anyone who lived in Ireland in the ‘troubles’ should read it. If only to see why we can’t ever go back.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Óg Hugh
- 27-10-23
Absolutely unbelievable story.
it's hard to believe some of the things that happen in the book. fantastic!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Denis
- 17-05-24
Brillant
i really liked it, so interesting and relatable. Thank you. Alot of generally unknown stories and events in it. I went through it very fast it was so interesting and exciting.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Tracey Millar
- 27-12-23
Nothing
Don’t waste your money . This is so badly written . Uninteresting . It’s falls way below standards expected
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 14-11-24
Artificial voice
I never got into the story due to the very irritating artificial Irish voice, or what sounded like one. Negative feedback from me
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