Audiobooks narrated by Ruairi Conaghan

Once Upon a Toon: 18 Years Inside Newcastle United

"Bloomsbury presents Once Upon a Toon: 18 Years Inside Newcastle United by Paul Ferris read by Ruairi Conaghan, with the foreword read by Alan Shearer ‘A must-read for any Newcastle fan.' ALAN SHEARER ‘A brilliant read.' SHAY GIVEN ‘A triumph... Beautifully written' LES FERDINAND Fascinating chronicles of an utterly unique life in football and 18 years at Newcastle United, with a foreword by Alan Shearer. Once Upon a Toon offers a unique perspective on life behind the scenes at one of England’s most famous football clubs. No other individual has had the immense privilege of working at Newcastle United in the capacity that Paul Ferris once did: as a player between 1981 and 1986, as a physiotherapist between 1993 and 2006, and finally as a key member of Alan Shearer’s management team in 2009. This is a light-hearted, often hilarious and sometimes unbelievable retelling of the events Paul experienced and characters he encountered. His numerous, otherwise forgotten, tales from the bygone era of 1980s football include the likes of Kevin Keegan, Jack Charlton, Arthur Cox, Paul Gascoigne, Peter Beardsley, George Best and more. Ferris’s chronicles from 18 years at Newcastle United also feature managers such as Graeme Souness and Sir Bobby Robson, the tumultuous 1993–2006 period and Alan Shearer’s ill-fated short tenure. If you are a Newcastle United supporter, football fan or loved The Boy on the Shed, this book is the ultimate way to revisit the club’s precious glory days of football. C 2023 Matthew Lowing P 2025 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC"

Paul Ferris (Author), Ruairi Conaghan (Narrator)

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A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

"Stephen Dedalus is a boy on the edge of transformation—questioning his strict Irish Catholic upbringing, the confines of his family, and the weight of tradition. As he comes of age, his inner world brims with restless ambition and a desire to escape conformity through the power of art. In this bold, lyrical, and deeply introspective novel, James Joyce traces Stephen's journey from obedient child to fiercely independent thinker, exploring the messy, passionate formation of an artist's identity in a world that demands obedience. A cornerstone of modernist literature, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is not just a coming-of-age story—it's a call to break free, speak truth, and live with artistic purpose."

James Joyce (Author), Ruairi Conaghan (Narrator)

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The Lost Past of Billy McQueen: A BRAND NEW utterly gripping and nostalgic dual timeline mystery from the author of The Vanishing of Margaret Small

"Earphones Award Winner 2025 The past has never left Billy. It's just been waiting for him to come and find it... It's been over thirty years since Billy last called Northern Ireland home. Back then, his secret love for schoolfriend Conor was the only shining light that kept him going during troubled times. That is, until their romance was tragically cut short when Conor disappeared without a trace. Now a phone call draws Billy back home when his mother falls into a coma. While sorting through old belongings, he stumbles upon an envelope bearing his name. Inside, he finds a mysterious note and a mixtape left by Conor - dated the very day he disappeared in 1989. But who sent it? Why did his mother keep it hidden? And what really happened to Conor? As Billy sets off to find the answers to a mystery that's followed him for years, he soon realises that uncovering the truth about his lost past may come at a high cost. But laying the ghosts of that past to rest might be the only way to finally set himself free... From the author of The Vanishing of Margaret Small comes a compelling and deeply nostalgic coming-of-age tale that promises to touch your heart and stay with you long after the last page. Packed with humour and tenderness, it's perfect for fans of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont, The Keeper of Stories and A Tidy Ending."

Neil Alexander (Author), Neil Alexander, Patrick Moy, Ruairi Conaghan (Narrator)

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The Turncoat's Widow: A Revolutionary War Mystery

"Recently widowed, Rebecca Parcell is too busy struggling to maintain her farm in Morristown to give a fig who wins the War for Independence. But rumors are spreading in the winter of 1780 that she's a Loyalist sympathizer who betrayed her husband to the British-quite a tidy way to end her disastrous marriage, the village gossips whisper. Everyone knows that her husband was a Patriot, a hero who died aboard a British prison ship moored in New York Harbor. But "everyone" is wrong. Parcell was a British spy, and General Washington-who spent that winter in Morristown-can prove it. He swears he'll safeguard Becca's farm if she unravels her husband's secrets. With a mob ready to exile her or worse, it's an offer she can't refuse. Escaped British prisoner of war Daniel Alloway was the last person to see Becca's husband alive, and Washington throws this unlikely couple together on an espionage mission to British-occupied New York City. Moving from glittering balls to an underworld of brothels and prisons, Becca and Daniel uncover a plot that threatens the new country's future. But will they move quickly enough to warn General Washington? And can Becca, who's lost almost everyone she loves, fight her growing attraction to Daniel, a man who always moves on?"

Mally Becker (Author), Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Nathaniel Priestley, Ruairi Conaghan (Narrator)

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Lighting Candles: A Paramilitary's War with Death, Drugs and Demons

"When Manny McDonnell was twelve, he awoke to discover British troops surrounding his home in the toughest area of trouble-torn Belfast. Internment had begun and, encouraged by a fiercely Republican mother, he took to the streets with other school kids, throwing bricks, bottles and petrol bombs at soldiers. Jailed at fifteen for having IRA links, he became a unit commander leading deadly missions for the INLA before joining the IPLO, a group so vicious even the IRA ordered it to disband. But his decades of commitment to a free united Ireland turned to disillusion when bombs indiscriminately killed two little boys in mainland Britain. It was a wake-up call and, sickened by the way events were unfolding, McDonnell distanced himself from the Troubles and began to spend more time in Scotland with major gangland players Paul Ferris and Tam 'The Licensee' McGraw. Friendly with both, he then faced difficult choices when the two fell out and became bitter rivals and sworn enemies. Lighting Candles is an astonishing and horrifying exposé of one man's journey through the blood, bombs and bullets of the paramilitaries to the criminal activities of drug-smuggling gangsters. It is also a story of how, no matter what has gone before, it's possible to put the past behind you and begin again."

David Leslie (Author), Ruairi Conaghan (Narrator)

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The Garden

"The Garden is not thriving. In fact, it is withering away. Once a little orchid haven, now after the worst hurricane ever seen in Florida, it is wrecked greenhouses, creeping mangroves and dangerously idle men. So when Romeo, an expert breeder of the lucrative ghost orchid, arrives from Honduras, keeper of the Garden, Blanchard, and his Irish right-hand man, Swallow, believe the winds of fortune are blowing their way. But Romeo is not who he seems, and Swallow can't shake the feeling that the newcomer will threaten his position in the Garden's flimsy hierarchy. And the ghost orchid is rare, a delicate and endangered species, hidden deep in a sweltering and treacherous cypress swamp, the Fakahatchee Strand. To capture it, Blanchard and Swallow must strike a deal with the leader of the local Seminole tribe, and his dangerously unpredictable nephew, Logan. The tribe are the only ones exempt from the laws protecting the endangered species of the glades, but Logan’s wounded pride, and the looming threat of violence, may just uproot any hope of success. As Blanchard's obsession distracts him from what is truly precious, Swallow's own long-buried traumas test his ability – and desire – to prevent the lust, betrayal and murder that engulf the Garden. Under a scorching sun, Paul Perry's debut solo novel is a tale of smothering power, with loyalty and agency thwarted by the tragic patterns of memory and behaviour. Told in spare, exact prose, The Garden is a modern fable, and a warning about trespassing against nature in the name of profit. '[An] urgent, eloquent rebuke to our pillaging of nature.' The Irish Times 'Paul Perry’s ambitious and atmospheric first solo novel is fascinating and disturbing in equal measure.' The Independent, Ireland - Paul Perry is an award-winning poet and novelist. He has published several collections of poetry, most recently 'Blindsight' (above / ground press, 2020). He also co-authored four international bestselling novels as Karen Perry, including 'The Innocent Sleep', with Penguin Random House. He directs the Creative Writing Programme at University College Dublin. 'The Garden' is his debut novel as Paul Perry."

Paul Perry (Author), Ruairi Conaghan (Narrator)

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The Magic in the Tin: From the author of the critically acclaimed THE BOY ON THE SHED

"Bloomsbury presents The Magic in the Tin by Paul Ferris, read by Ruairi Conaghan. Unmissable: please read this extraordinary book.' – Daily Mail 'A triumph ... A worthy follow-up to The Boy on the Shed.' – Jeff Stelling 'All men should read this book – important and brilliantly written.' – Alan Shearer 'Genius... A difficult, deeply personal story beautifully told.' – George Caulkin, The Athletic —— From the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, The Boy on the Shed, comes a powerful tale of grit and resilience, told with great humour, openness and profound bravery. Former Newcastle United winger Paul Ferris was 51. He had successfully forged a post-football career as a physio, barrister and then a CEO, and his award-winning memoir, The Boy on the Shed, was just about to be published. But then he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. This honest, sometimes brutal and frequently funny book tells the story of what happened next. Prostate cancer. It’s a phrase that strikes fear into the heart of every man. It’s the most common male cancer, but treatable if it’s caught early enough. Paul doesn’t shy away from describing that treatment. And neither does he hold back on its life-changing consequences – from harrowing surgery, humiliating procedures and excruciating consultations – as he strives to become the man he once was again. The mental challenges and psychological impact of living with this acute condition are explored in Paul’s revealing and riveting narrative that represents rare male honesty, but this is never a ‘poor me’ book or not in any way self-pitying. Courageous, inspirational and beautifully written, The Magic in the Tin is a rare thing: deeply moving yet rich in humour, written by a true sportsman in every sense of the word. A brutal and poignant account of one man's journey through prostate cancer. C 2023 Matthew Lowing P 2022 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC"

Paul Ferris (Author), Ruairi Conaghan (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Ruairi Conaghan

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