Kevin Barry
Kevin Gerard Barry (Irish: Caoimhín de Barra; 20 January, 1902 - 1 November, 1920), was the first Republican to be executed by the British, since those of the Leaders of the 1916 Rebellion. [1] Barry was sentenced to death for his part in an IRA operation, which resulted in the deaths of three British soldiers. [2] His execution was to further outrage public opinion in Ireland and throughout the world. His courage in refusing to inform on his comrades while under torture earned him a place in the nationalist pantheon, [3] [2] and was to become one of the most celebrated of Republican martyrs. [4]
Early Life
Kevin Barry was born on the 20 January, 1902, at 8 Fleet Street Dublin. The son of Thomas and Mary (nèe Dowling) Barry, he was the fourth of seven children, two boys and five sisters. He was baptised in St. Andrews Church, Westland Row. Thomas Barry Snr. worked on the family farm at Tombeagh, Hacketstown, County Carlow, and ran a dairy business from Fleet Street. Thomas was to die in 1908 at the age of 56. [5]
Mary, his mother came from Drumguin, also in County Carlow, and on the death of her husband, moved the family to Tombeagh. As a child Kevin liked country life, and went to the national school in Rathvilly. On returning to Dublin, he attended St. Mary’s College, Rathmines up until the school closed in the summer of 1916. [5]
When he was thirteen, he attended a commemoration for the Manchester Martyrs. Members of the Fenian’s, the three men were hanged in England in 1867, and whose cry of “God Save Ireland,” had a strong effect on him. Afterwards he wished to join Countess Markievicz’s Fianna na hEireann, but was dissuaded by his family. [3]
Belvedere College
From St. Mary’s College he then transferred to Belvedere College, were he was a member on the championship Junior Rugby Cup team, and earned himself a place on the senior team. In 1918 he became secretary of the school hurling club which had just been formed, and was one of their most enthusiastic players. [5]
During his time in school, he kept a journal in which he elaborated on a number of topics which interested him. [3] Writing about ‘Kingship’ he expressed the following opinion:
the only surviving evil of the days when the people, the mob, were looked upon as dirt, as animals to serve the mighty king and his minions. When all believed or were forced to believe in the Divine Right of Kings…We are at present living in a time which marks the wane of this despotism,” and he continues, “In a day when the people are coming into their own. When the labourer — the backbone of every nation has the same vote and the same right to live as those noblemen who in former times had almost absolute power . . . The belief in the Divine Right of Kings is dying out and the thrones of Europe are tottering. Sentiments which would have shocked our king-worshipping forefathers are floating above in the air. Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité, the motto of the second greatest Republic in the world, will shortly become the war-cry of all and we hope our little island will not change her present views upon Kingship.” [5]
One of his favourite books at this time was “A Tale of Two Cities,” on which he wrote in his journal:
The chapters relating the out-break of Revolution are especially fine…They show how the patience of a long-suffering people is tested to the utmost; how they worked and plotted secretly to regain their freedom and how when the chance came they seized it. The outburst of long bottled-up fury, of pent-up hate, and long-standing grievances, is splendidly described.” [3]
Father Thomas Counihan, S.J. his science and mathematics teacher, said of him: “He was a dour kind of lad. But once he got down to something he went straight ahead…There was no waving of flags with him, but he was sincere and intense.” [5]
In an essay he wrote entitled ‘Prejudice’ he considered the subject of three angles: racial, religious and personal. He believed that racial prejudice was the worst of all:
It usually masks a much worse thing — oppression or tyranny. It is also divided into two classes, namely that of the white man against his coloured brother, for brother he is whether black, red, or yellow, and that of the white man against his fellow-white man of a different nation. The two combined form the origin of very many of the world’s greatest wars and slaughter.” [5]
In another entitled “Uses of History,” he wrote
The British have tried for 700 years to abolish Irish tradition and write false histories, but owing to the effects of the poets . . . they have failed.” [3]
Notwithstanding his many activities, he did not neglect his studies. [5] He won a merit-based scholarship given annually by Dublin Corporation, which allowed him to become a student of medicine at UCD. [3]
Medical Student
He entered University College Dublin in the autumn of 1919, a fellow student described him then as “open-handed, open-hearted and generous to a fault and first in every manly exercise.” [5]Much like other students he liked to go dancing, and to the theatre, and was popular, making friends easily. His closest friend at college was Jerry MacAleer, from Dungannon, who he had first met in Belvedere. Although other friends included Frank Flood, Tom Kissane and Mick Robinson, who unknown too many in the college, were, with Barry, Irish Republican Army.[5]
Volunteer
During his second year at Belvedere College, during October 1917, aged 15, he joined the Irish Republican Army. [5]Assigned originally to ‘C’ Company 1st Battalion, based on the north side of Dublin, he later transferred to the newly formed ‘H’ Company, under the command of Capt. Seamus Kavanagh.
His first job as a member of the IRA, was delivering mobilisation orders around the city. Along with other Volunteers he trained in a number of locations in Dublin. Among the most notable of buildings used, being 44 Parnell Square, the present day headquarters of Sinn Féin, now named Kevin Barry Hall. The IRA held Field exercises during this period and were conducted in north county Dublin and in areas such as Finglas. [5]
The following year age 16, he was introduced by Sean O’Neill and Bob O’Flanagan to the Clarke Luby Club of the IRB, which had been reorganised.
IRA Operations
He took part in a number of IRA operations in the years leading up to his capture. He was part of the unit which raided the Shamrock Works for weapons, destined to be handed over to the R.I.C.. He also took part in the raid on Mark’s of Capel Street, looking for ammunition and explosives. On the June 1, 1920, under Vice-Commandant Peadar Clancy, he played a notable part in the seizing the King’s Inn, capturing the garrison’s arms. The haul included 25 rifles, two light machine guns and large quantities of ammunition. The 25 British soldiers captured during the attack were released as the Volunteers withdrew. In recognition for his dedication to duty he was promoted to Section Commander. [5]
The Ambush
On the morning of September 20, 1920, Kevin Barry went to Mass, and received Holy Communion; he then joined a party of his IRA Volunteers on Bolton Street in Dublin. Their orders were to ambush a British army truck as it picked up a delivery of bread from the bakery, and capture their weapons. The ambush was scheduled for 11:00A.M., which gave him enough time to take part in the operation and return to class in time for an examination he had at 2:00 P.M. The truck arrived late, and was under the command of Sergeant Banks N.C.O. Armed with a .38 Parabellum, Barry and members of C Company were to surround the truck, disarm the soldiers, take the weapons, and escape. He covered the back of the truck, and when challenged, the five soldiers complied with the order to lay down their weapons. Then a shot rang out, Terry Golway author of “For the Cause of Liberty,” suggests it was possibly a warning shot from an uncovered soldier in the front. Barry and the rest of the ambush party then opened fire. His gun jammed twice, and he dove for cover under the truck. His comrades had during this time begun to withdraw, and he was left behind. He was then spotted, and arrested by the soldiers. [3]
One of the soldiers, Pte. Harold Washington had been shot dead. He was fifteen years old. Two others, Pte. Marshall Whitehead and Thomas Humphries were both badly wounded. Both were later to die of their wounds. [5]
The British Army released the following statement on Monday afternoon:
This morning a party of one N.C.O. and six men of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment were fired on by a body of civilians outside a bakery in Church Street, Dublin. One soldier was killed and four were wounded. A piquet of the Lancashire Fusiliers in the vicinity, hearing the shots, hurried to their comrades’ assistance, and succeeded in arresting one of the aggressors. No arms or equipment were lost by the soldiers. [5]
Capture and Torture
Kevin Barry was placed in the back of the lorry with the body of Pte. Harold Washington, and was subjected to some abuse by the Pte. Washington comrades. He was transported then to the North Dublin Union.
On arrival at the barracks he was taken under military police escort to the defaulters’ room where he was searched and handcuffed. A short while later, three sergeants of the Lancashire Fusiliers and two officers began the interrogation. He gave his name and his address which was 58 South Circular Road, Dublin: his occupation as a medical student but refused to answer any other questions. The officers continued, they wanted the names of all involved in the ambush. [5]
In an affidavit drawn up in Mountjoy Prison days before his execution, he tells what happened when the question of names was repeated:
I refused to give them. He tried to persuade me to give the names, and I persisted in refusing. He then sent the sergeant out of the room for a bayonet. When it was brought in the sergeant was ordered by the same officer to point the bayonet at my stomach. The same questions as to the names and addresses of my companions were repeated, with the same result. The sergeant was then ordered to turn my face to the wall and point the bayonet to my back. I was so turned. The sergeant then said that he would run the bayonet into me if I did not tell. The bayonet was then removed and I was turned round again. The same officer then said to me that if I persisted in my attitude he would turn me out to the men in the barrack square, and he supposed I knew what that meant with the men in their present temper. I said nothing. He ordered the sergeants to put me face down on the floor and twist my arm. I was pushed down on the floor after my handcuffs were removed by the sergeant who went for the bayonet. When I lay on the floor, one of the sergeants knelt on my back, the other two placed one foot each on my back and left shoulder, and the man who knelt on me twisted my right arm, holding it by the wrist with one hand, while he held my hair with the other to pull back my head. The arm was twisted from the elbow joint. This continued, to the best of my judgment, for five minutes. It was very painful. The first officer was standing near my feet, and the officer who accompanied him was still present. During the twisting of my arm, the first officer continued to question me as to the names and addresses of my companions, and also asked me the name of my company commander and any other officers I knew. As I still persisted in refusing to answer these questions I was allowed to get up and I was again handcuffed. A civilian came in and repeated the questions, with the same result. He informed me that if I gave all the information I knew I could get off. I was then left in the company of the military policeman; the two officers, the three sergeants and the civilian leaving together. I could certainly identify the officer who directed the proceedings and put the questions. I am not sure of the others, except the sergeant with the bayonet. My arm was medically treated by an officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps, attached to the North Dublin Union, the following morning, and by the prison hospital orderly afterwards for four or five days. I was visited by the court martial officer last night and he read for me a confirmation of sentence of death by hanging, to be executed on Monday next, and I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing same to be true and by virtue of the Statutory Declaration Act, 1836.[6]
Trial
The War Office ordered that Kevin Barry be tried by court-martial under the ‘Restoration of Order in Ireland Act,’ which had received the Royal Assent on August 9, 1920. General Sir Nevil Macready, Commander-in-Chief of British forces in Ireland then nominated a court of nine officers under a Brigadier-General Onslow. [5]
On Wednesday, October 20, at 10 o’clock the nine officers of the court — ranging in rank from Brigadier to Lieutenant — took their places at an elevated table. At 10.25 [7] Kevin Barry was brought into the room by a military escort. Then Sean O’hUadhaigh sought a short adjournment to consult his client. The court granted this request. After the short adjournment Barry announced “As a soldier of the Irish Republic, I refuse to recognise the court.” Brigadier Onslow explained the prisoner’s “perilous situation” and that he was being tried on a capital charge. He did not reply. Sean O’hUadhaigh then rose to tell the court that since his client did not recognise the authority of the court he himself could take no further part in the proceedings. [5]
He was charged on three counts of the murder of Pte. Marshall Whitehead. One of the bullets taken from Whitehead’s body was of .45 calibre, while all witnesses stated that Barry was armed with a .38 Parabellum.[8] The Judge Advocate General informed the court that the Crown had only to prove that the accused was one of the party that killed three British soldiers, and every member of the party was technically guilty of murder. [5]
In accordance with military procedure the verdict was not announced in court. He was returned to Mountjoy, and at about 8 o’clock that night, the district court-martial officer entered his cell and read out the sentence: death by hanging. The public learned on October 28 that the date of execution had been fixed for November 1. [3][5]
Execution
Kevin Barry spent the last day of his life preparing for death. His ordeal focussed world attention on Ireland. According to Sean Cronin author of “Kevin Barry,” he hoped for a firing squad rather than the gallows, due to the fact that he had been condemned by a military court. But he didn’t really care, friends said, because heroics were foreign to him. A friend who visited him in Mountjoy prison after he received confirmation of the death sentence, said:
He is meeting death as he met life with courage but with nothing of the braggart. He does not believe that he is doing anything wonderfully heroic. Again and again he has begged that no fuss be made about him.
He reported Barry as saying
It is nothing, to give one’s life for Ireland. I’m not the first and maybe I won’t be the last. What’s my life compared with the cause?” [5]
He joked about his death with his sister Kathy “Well, they are not going to let me like a soldier fall…But I must say they are going to hang me like a gentleman.” This was according to Cronin, a reference to George Bernard Shaw’s The Devil’s Disciple, the last play Kevin and his sister had seen together.
On October 31, he was allowed three visits of three people each. The last of which was taken by his mother, brother and sisters. In addition to the two Auxiliaries with him, there were five or six warders in the boardroom, which made the conversation difficult for them. Then the Deputy Governor announced that the visit was over. As his family were leaving a notable conversation occurred when they met Canon John Waters, on the way in to Kevin, he said, “This boy does not seem to realise he is going to die in the morning” Mrs Barry asked him what he meant? He said: “He is so gay and light-hearted all the time. If he fully realised it, he would be overwhelmed.” Mrs Barry replied “Canon Waters, I know you are not a Republican. But it is impossible for you to understand that my son is actually proud to die for the Republic?” Canon John Waters became somewhat flustered as they parted. The Barry family recorded that they were upset by this encounter because he was they considered the chief chaplain and “the nearest thing to a friend that Kevin would see before his death, and he seemed so alien.” [5]
Kevin Barry was led to his death on a Monday morning, November 1, 1920, after hearing two Masses in his cell. Father John Waters, who walked with him to the scaffold wrote to Barry’s mother later, “You are the mother, my dear Mrs. Barry, of one of the bravest and best boys I have ever known. His death was one of the most holy, and your dear boy is waiting for you now, beyond the reach of sorrow or trial.” [3]
Dublin Corporation met on the Monday, and passed a vote of sympathy with the Barry family, and adjourned the meeting as a mark of respect. The Chief Secretary’s office in Dublin Castle, on the Monday night, released the following communiqué:
The sentence of death by hanging passed by court-martial upon Kevin Barry. or Berry, medical student, aged 18½ years, for the murder of Pte. Whitehead in Dublin on September 20, was duly executed this morning at Mountjoy Prison, Dublin. At a military court of inquiry, held subsequently in lieu of an inquest, medical evidence was given to the effect that death was instantaneous. The court found that the sentence had been carried out in accordance with law.[5]
Aftermath
Barry's death is considered a watershed moment in the Irish conflict. His hanging came only days after the death on hunger strike of Terence MacSwiney - the Republican Lord Mayor of Cork - and brought public opinion to fever-pitch. His treatment and death attracted great international attention and attempts were made by U.S., British and Vatican officials to secure a reprieve.
The only full-length biography of Kevin Barry was written by his nephew, the journalist Donal O'Donovan and published in 1989 as Kevin Barry and his Time.
Kevin Barry is remembered in a well-known song about his imprisonment and execution, written shortly after his death and still sung today. The tune to "Kevin Barry" was taken from "Rolling Home to Dear Old Ireland".
The words of Kevin Barry:-
In Mountjoy jail one Monday morning
- High upon the gallows tree
- Kevin Barry gave his young life
- For the cause of liberty
- Just a lad of eighteen summers
- Yet there's no one can deny
- As he walked to death that morning
- He proudly held his head on high.
- CHORUS
- Shoot me like an Irish soldier,
- Do not hang me like a dog;
- For I fought for Ireland's freedom
- On that dark September morn,
- All around that little bakery,
- Where we fought them hand to hand.
- Shoot me like an Irish soldier
- For I fought to free Ireland.
- Just before he faced the hangman
- In his dreary prison cell
- British soldiers tortured Barry
- Just because he would not tell
- The names of his brave comrades
- And other things they wished to know
- "Turn informer or we'll kill you"
- Kevin Barry answered "No"
- Calmly standing to attention
- While he bade his last farewell
- To his broken hearted mother
- Whose sad grief no one can tell
- For the cause he proudly cherished
- This sad parting had to be
- Then to death he walked on smiling
- That old Ireland might be free
- Another martyr for old Ireland
- Another murder for the crown
- Whose brutal laws may kill the Irish
- But can't keep their spirits down
- Lads like Barry are no cowards
- From the foe they will not fly
- Lads like Barry will free Ireland
- For her sake they'll live and die
On October 14 2001 the remains of Barry and 9 other volunteers from the War of Independence were given a state funeral and moved from Mountjoy Prison to be re-interred at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.
References
- ^ Irish Political Prisoners, 1848 – 1922: Theatres of War, Séan McConville, Routledge, London, 2005, ISBN 0 415 37866 4
- ^ a b The Cause of Ireland: From the United Irishmen to Partition, Liz Curtis, Beyond the Pale Publications, Belfast, 1995, ISBN 0 9514229 6 0
- ^ a b c d e f g h i For the Cause of Liberty, Terry Golway, Simon & Schuster, New York, 2001, ISBN 0 684 85556 9
- ^ Ireland 1798 – 1998, Alvin Jackson, Blackwell Publishing, 1999, ISBN 0 631 19541 6
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Kevin Barry, Sean Cronin, Published by C.F.N. Third Edition
- ^ This affidavit was written by Sean 0 hUadhaigh, solicitor; witnessed by Myles Keogh, Justice of the Peace and was signed by Kevin Barry. The original is now in the National Museum.
- ^ He was 25 minutes late for his trial because the armoured car bringing him from Mountjoy Prison to Marlborough Barracks broke down on the North Circular Road.
- ^ In For the Cause of Liberty by Terry Golway, he lists Barry’s weapon as a .38 Mauser