Padraig O'toole

Aran to Africa: an Irishman's Unique Odyssey Padraig O'toole

Starting with an insider's glimpse of a vanished way of life, Aran to Africa traces the steps of Padraig O' Toole from a barefoot Irish-speaking boy who learns English, to rebellious seminarian, building labourer, celibate residing in an African Emir's harem, teacher of the Qur'an to Muslim students, expert horseman and boatman, priest at loggerheads with church bureaucrats, magazine editor, doctoral student in Canada, teacher in England, international concert promoter, and journalism professor in Tanzania. In this compelling read, we encounter U. S. author Leon Uris, media guru Marshall McLuhan, renowned educationalists Paolo Freire and Ivan lllich, and Irish authors Maeve Binchy, Breandan Ó hEithir and John B. Keane. He marries the internationally renowned singer and harpist, Mary O'Hara and retiring to his native lnis Mór, he sums up reflections inspired by his life.