Kevin Barry Papers

Organisations

Moloney, Kathleen Barry, 1896-1969
Barry, Kevin, 1902-1920
O'Halpin, Eunan
Hannon, Philip

Extent

56 items

Author/Contributor

Hannon, Philip

Coverage

Scope and content

The Collection is a relatively small but valuable body of material. Barry was only eighteen when executed for his part in the killing of three British soldiers in September 1920, and therefore had little time to generate a large body of material himself. The collection contains his school text and exercise books (P93/2-4, P93/5-8), as well as other material associated with his days at Belvedere Jesuit College, such as sports equipment. There is also some material dealing with his year at UCD where he had begun to read medicine, and his brief time in custody at Mountjoy Prison before execution (1 Nov 1920). However, the larger part of the collection was artificially generated by Kathy Barry Maloney, Barry's sister, after his death, and consists for a large part of news-cuttings and other written material commemorating his life and premature death (1921-64).

The whole collection is a very vivid record of a volatile period in modern Irish history. It captures especially well the violent baptism this country received at independence, and the esteem in which those who had died for 'the cause' were held at the time. Kevin Barry was by all accounts an enthusiastic and popular young man, and his life was shattered by involvement in the Republican struggle. The collection captures the pathos of his imprisonment and execution, but also the anarchy and violence in which Ireland of the time was engulfed.

Language

English

Reference Number

P93

Biographical/historical information

Born in Dublin and educated at St Mary’s College Rathmines, Belvedere and University College Dublin where he was a medical student, Barry joined the Volunteers in 1917. He was captured in September 1920 while taking part in a raid on a military lorry collecting bread in Church Street during which a young British soldier was shot dead. He was court martialled and executed on 1 November 1920.

Scope and content

The Collection is a relatively small but valuable body of material. Barry was only eighteen when executed for his part in the killing of three British soldiers in September 1920, and therefore had little time to generate a large body of material himself. The collection contains his school text and exercise books (P93/2-4, P93/5-8), as well as other material associated with his days at Belvedere Jesuit College, such as sports equipment. There is also some material dealing with his year at UCD where he had begun to read medicine, and his brief time in custody at Mountjoy Prison before execution (1 Nov 1920). However, the larger part of the collection was artificially generated by Kathy Barry Maloney, Barry's sister, after his death, and consists for a large part of news-cuttings and other written material commemorating his life and premature death (1921-64).
The whole collection is a very vivid record of a volatile period in modern Irish history. It captures especially well the violent baptism this country received at independence, and the esteem in which those who had died for 'the cause' were held at the time. Kevin Barry was by all accounts an enthusiastic and popular young man, and his life was shattered by involvement in the Republican struggle. The collection captures the pathos of his imprisonment and execution, but also the anarchy and violence in which Ireland of the time was engulfed.

Organisation/arrangement

The arrangement level headings and subheadings group together the material generated by Barry himself. The artificial sections of the collection do not fall as naturally into place, but have been arranged to reflect the cult which surrounded Kevin Barry's memory. Most items are chronologically listed under each heading.

Ownership/custodial history

The Kevin Barry collection was deposited in the Archives Department, University College Dublin in 1990 by Dr Eunan O'Halpin.

Suggested credit

"Kevin Barry Papers," held by UCD Archives. © Various copyright holders - see individual records. Digital content: © University College Dublin, published by UCD Library, University College Dublin <http://digital.ucd.ie/view/ucdlib:39106>

Creative Commons licence

Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons "Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International" License <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/>

Commercial use details

To use for commercial purposes, please contact the UCD Digital Library

Copyright of original resource

Various copyright holders - see individual records

Copyright of digital resource

University College Dublin

Related item

Papers of Kathleen Barry Moloney (1896–1969)Dublin, IrelandUCD Archives1916-1969IE UCDA P94

Related item

Papers of Elgin O'Rahilly (1903–97)Dublin, IrelandUCD Archives1917-1989IE UCDA P200

Related item

Papers of Patrick Barry Moloney (1927–89)Dublin, IrelandUCD Archives1863-1959IE UCDA P95

Related item

Papers of the Kevin Barry Memorial Committeec0095info:fedora/ucdlib:38697doi:10.7925/drs1.ucdlib_38697

Related exhibition

Kevin Barry: UCD Student, Irish Republican Hero UCD Library and UCD Archives Dublin, IrelandGoogle Arts & Culture2016

Subjects

Creative Commons licence Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons "Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International" License <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/>

Commercial use details To use for commercial purposes, please contact the UCD Digital Library

Copyright of original resource Various copyright holders - see individual records

Copyright of digital resource University College Dublin