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Richard Ryan

@bookshopguy.bsky.social
75 followers 22 following 99 posts

Self-employed Belfast bookworm, early musick enthusiast, amateur birder, out-of-retirement organist and long suffering Spurs fan.

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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
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.
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
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!
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Another random and eclectic reading month
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
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!
A sculpture made of bog oak in Keadue Co RoscommonTurlough O’Carolan’s most famous tune
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
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
Reading by the shores of Belfast Lough the short story ‘A Belfast Woman’ by Mary Beckett, who would’ve been 100 years old this year.
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Maggie O’Farrell being superbly interviewed by Jan Carson tonight on the Belfast leg of her UK and Ireland ‘Land’ tour.
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
All things Hedgehog up on the blog today open.substack.com/pub/bookshop...
open.substack.com
H is for Hedgehog
I cannot put eloquently into words my reaction when I first found out we had a hedgehog visiting our garden.
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
A little thing I’ve written in preparation for the service to come. Happy Pentecost!
open.substack.com
Songs of the Spirit
Hymns for Pentecost Sunday
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
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!
media.tenor.com
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 .
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
East Belfast blue skies on BlueSky
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Good morning! A 45-minute retreat before whatever this day has in store shows itself fully. May the day be kind on you too.
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
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.
Patrick Laurie in conversation with Guy StaggGranard Co Longford, in between the showers!My book haul
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
A tipple for Seamus Heaney’s birthday
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Growing to love the Emmaus story more and more every time I hear it. Their eyes were closed but their hearts burned!
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
A mixed bag of books during March, including a first read of Lord of the Flies.
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
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!
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
I’m reading a 31 day devotional based on Irish blessings. Today’s made me chuckle. Happy St Patrick’s Day
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
A gentle genius in piano delivery advertising
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
I came to work today dressed as a bookseller. Happy #WorldBookDay for those celebrating.
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
It’s been a decent month of reading #BookSky
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Agree or disagree as you will, but this is quite the list! www.premierchristianity.com/features/100...
premierchristianity.com
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
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
The hype surrounding The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is well founded. What an outstanding read it is! #BookSky
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
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...
m.independent.ie
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.
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
He sure is!
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
First five star read already! Insectopolis by Peter Kuper is a really informative and beautifully produced graphic novel highlighting the importance of insects throughout history and their importance today. A wonderful book. #BookSky #GreenSky
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
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.’
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
My favourite reads of 2025 #BookSky
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
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.
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 25/12/2025
Me in full flow last night during the midnight Eucharist, tackling ‘that’ chord in O Come all ye faithful, with claw like precision!!
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
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
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Super wee article that sums it all up perfectly! www.ft.com/content/cc77...
ft.com
I opened a bookshop. It was the best, worst thing I’ve ever done
Chloe Fox shares the hopes and heartache of fulfilling a life-long dream
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
For this coat rack they’ve really pulled out all the stops!
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
In Loughgall for a football match and ended up watching one of the most spectacular sunsets of the year
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
In weather like this, I definitely wore the wrong trousers Gromit!
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
I love my local football club, and I love the community that surrounds it. And I love that even here on the terraces, I can take orders for Bibles!
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
How I read a book with endless note references #BookSky
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
One journey, two paths. Remembering Sister Stan
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Some blue sky on BlueSky! Along the Newry Canal this afternoon
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
An Irish book I discovered at a bookshop event was the wonderful ‘Rathlin: A Wild Life’ by @rubyfree.bsky.social #IrishBookWeek #IrishBookaDay #BookSky
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
An Irish book I’m going to read next has been on my shelf for a while but has remained untouched until now- James Joyce- Dubliners #irishbookweek #IrishBookaDay #BookSky
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
Day 2 of #IrishBookWeek is to share an Irish language book. I’m cheating a bit here by sharing from a book that has some Irish language- the Church of Ireland Hymnal. And as it’s Sunday, I thought I would include this offering by the great Sean O’Riada #Irishbookaday
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
Sharing an Irish bookshop for Day 1 of #IrishBookWeek, the mighty Charlie Byrne’s in Galway #BookSky
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
@faberbooks.bsky.social hey, would it possible for me to get a proof copy of Lucy Caldwell’s Devotions book please??
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
In other bookish news, today I’ve been carrying around, in one coat pocket Ishiguro’s The Buried Giant, and in the other pocket, The Oxford Book of Carols. I have big pockets!
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Today my feed has blessed me with Cillian Murphy discussing books that should be on school curriculums, the cast of Hammet revealing their favourite Shakespeare plays, and the fact The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe was published 75 years ago today! Its been a very bookish day, and I’m here for it
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Happy #BookshopDay to those who are celebrating
media.tenor.com
a man is standing in a room filled with lots of books and talking on a cell phone .
ALT: a man is standing in a room filled with lots of books and talking on a cell phone .
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Kafka’s Metamorphisis is a short work of unbearable sadness. I’m telling you this cos the cat doesn’t care!
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
It’s been two years since my last parkrun, and today I ventured on my 53rd. Today’s venue, Portrush
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Today I’ll mostly be channelling my inner farmer from Shaun the Sheep!
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Richard Ryan @bookshopguy.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Day 15, a much brighter day in many ways with a family trip to a farm for #30DaysWild
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