Anthony Christopher Barry (7 June 1901 – 24 October 1983) was an Irish businessman and

Fine Gael Fine Gael (, ; English: "Family (or Tribe) of the Irish") is a liberal-conservative and Christian-democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil � ...

politician who served as a

Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála ( , ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament). It is the equivalent of terms such as ''Member of Parli ...

(TD) for the Cork Borough constituency from 1961 to 1965 and 1954 to 1957. He was a

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

for the

Cultural and Educational Panel The Cultural and Educational Panel () is one of five vocational panels which together elect 43 of the 60 members of Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas (the legislature of Ireland). The Cultural and Educational Panel elects five s ...

from 1957 to 1961. He served as

Lord Mayor of Cork The Lord Mayor of Cork ( ga, Ard-Mhéara Chathair Chorcaí) is the honorific title of the Chairperson ( ga, Cathaoirleach) of Cork City Council which is the local government body for the city of Cork (city), Cork in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. ...

from 1961 to 1962.

Early life and career

He was born the eldest among eleven children of James J. Barry, tea and wine merchant of Ballyhooly, County Cork, and Annie Barry (née Ryanh). His family had a small grocery business at Bridge Street in

Cork Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...

. The firm specialised in teas and wines. The business later moved to Princes Street. It was awarded the Empire Cup for Tea Blending at the 1934 Grocers Exhibition in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. He spent his working life at the firm which was later developed under the tutelage of his son

Peter Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a sur ...

into a major company called

Barry's Tea Barry's Tea is an Irish tea company founded in 1901 by James J. Barry in Cork. Until the 1960s, tea was sold from a shop in Prince's Street, but thereafter the company expanded its wholesaling and distribution operations. There is a common debate ...

. He served with the National Army during the

Irish Civil War The Irish Civil War ( ga, Cogadh Cathartha na hÉireann; 28 June 1922 – 24 May 1923) was a conflict that followed the Irish War of Independence and accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State, an entity independent from the United ...

, reaching the rank of captain.

Political career

Barry acted as election agent for

W. T. Cosgrave William Thomas Cosgrave (5 June 1880 – 16 November 1965) was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as the president of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1932, leader of the Opposition in both the Free State and Ire ...

, the former President of the Executive Council who was a

(TD) for Cork Borough from 1932 to 1944. Barry was elected to

Dáil Éireann Dáil Éireann ( , ; ) is the lower house, and principal chamber, of the Oireachtas (Irish legislature), which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann (the upper house).Article 15.1.2º of the Constitution of Ireland read ...

as TD for Cork Borough at the 1954 general election, but lost his seat at the 1957 general election and was then elected to the

9th Seanad This is a list of the members of the 9th Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas (legislature) of the Ireland. These Senators were elected or appointed in 1957, after the 1957 general election and served until the close of poll fo ...

on the

. He was re-elected to the Dáil at the 1961 general election, and served until a further defeat at the 1965 general election. He was also

from 1961 to 1962.

Family and personal life

Barry's son

won a seat in his old constituency in 1969, he was a Minister and briefly

Tánaiste The Tánaiste ( , ) is the deputy head of the government of Ireland and thus holder of its second-most senior office. The Tánaiste is appointed by the President of Ireland on the advice of the Taoiseach. The current office holder is former Taoi ...

in the 1980s, and was succeeded as TD in 1997 by his daughter

Deirdre Clune Deirdre Clune (; born 1 June 1959) is an Irish politician who is a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the South constituency. She is a member of Fine Gael, part of the European People's Party. She previously served as a Se ...

. Anthony Barry's daughter Theresa (Terry) Kelly served as

Mayor of Limerick The office of Mayor of the City and County of Limerick is currently the title used by the chairperson of Limerick City and County Council. Prior to the establishment of the council, the Mayor of Limerick was the chairperson of Limerick City Counc ...

from 1983 to 1984. Barry had an interest in photography from an early age and in his 50s his skill developed and apart from taking photographs he developed them at his home in York Terrace.

References

Sources

*''No Lovelier City'', a Portrait of Cork by Anthony Barry, Mercier Press 2004 . *RTÉ Radio interview with

, 21 June 2006. {{DEFAULTSORT:Barry, Anthony 1901 births 1983 deaths Local councillors in Cork (city) Lord Mayors of Cork Members of the 15th Dáil Members of the 17th Dáil Fine Gael TDs Members of the 9th Seanad Fine Gael senators People educated at North Monastery

Early life and career

Political career

Family and personal life

See also

References

Sources