Kevin liked the country life in County Carlow, he was a hardy lad and a good athlete. He attended Rathvilly National school for a few years, later transferring to St. Mary's Collegein Rathmines, Dublin. This school closed in the summer of 1916 and Kevin transferred to Belvedere College which was run by the Jesuit Fathers. He was a member of the Champion Rugby team and laterthe Senior XV Team. Kevin was an outstanding player on the Hurling team and became secretary of the Hurling Club in 1918.
During his second year at Belvedere College he joined the Irish Volunteers. Despite the many activities, he never neglected his studies.Kevin earned honors in middle (Junior) and Senior year and went on to win a scholarship to the National University, Dublin.
Kevin came to Nationalism at a very early age. He spent much of his childhood in Northeast County Carlow, an area rich in folk memories of the United Irishmen and the renowned County Wicklow guerrilla chief, Michael Dwyer. From 1916 onward, the Barry family became more involved in the national movement. Kevin joined the Irish Volunteers in October 1917; he was only 15 years old at the time ans was posted to the C company of the first Battalion which was on the north side of the River Liffey. The C Company trained at various centers throughout the city, namely the O'Flannigin Sinn Fein Club, the McDermott Club, and 44 Parnell Square. The latter is now known as Kevin Barry Hall.
Kevin's first job as a volunteer was delivering mobilization orders. That meant cycling all over the city. He did this in addition to attending school. Kevin entered Dublin University in the fall of 1919 to study medicine. He was described by a fellow student as an openhearted and generous-to-a-fault student. He read widely and liked theatre. At the same time he carried out his duties as a citizen soldier with vigor and enthusiasm.
Many of his high school friends were also members of the Volunteer. During the three years Kevin was a member, he had taken part in a number of operations. Some of these operations were minor, like the raid on the Shamrock Works for weapons, and the raid on the Marks of Chapel Street for ammunition and explosives. His dedication to duty won him recognition and a promotion to Section Commander.
On June 1, 1920, Kevin's Battalion (Company C) seized the King's Inn and captured the garrison's arms. On another occasion he led a group assigned to take the guardroom on Constitution Hill where they captured rifles, Lewis machine guns and a large quanity of ammunition. Ironically, in view of Kevin's ultimate fate, 25 British soldiers seized in the raid were released unharmed.
Later, Kevin and a number of Volunteers tried to disarm a lorry (truck) load of British soldiers who had come to Monk's Bakery to pick up supplies. Kevin was captured in the ambush in which six British soldiers were killed ( the first group of soldiers killed since 1916). There was no evidence that Kevin fired any of the fatal shots. It added to the romance of Kevin Barry to describe him as only an inexperienced schoolboy when captured. It is untrue and misses his significance as an authentic national hero, a rank and file representitive of the Volunteer Army, battling the world's greatest empire.
After the capture, Kevin was tortured by the British soldiers because he refused to tell who else was involved. On November 1, 1920, Kevin Barry, age 18, was hanged by the British. His death had a profound effect on the imagination of the Irish youth. On the day of his execution, scores of his fellow students at all the Irish Universities joined the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Many English and Americans, plus all of Europe were in shock and outrage at the execution of a young patriot whose devotion to his country they could only admire.
Kevin Barry was buried in a little laurel plot in Mountjoy Jail; a simple cross marks the grave. His influence had only begun and would continue beyond the grave; it would spread to many lands. His name became a symbol and a slogan; a hymn of freedom and of unconquerable youth.
Many songs were written about Kevin Barry, the most famous begins;
In Mountjoy Jail one Monday morning
High upon a gallows tree,
Kevin Barry gave his young life
For the cause of liberty.
One also has to wonder what the Science of Medicine was denied with his untimely death.
Denis J. Moriarty
Source: The Story of Kevin Barry by Sean Cronin; published by the National Publications Committee.
The Division has sponsored many social events including dances and the Irish Day picnic.
The Kevin Barry Division has contributed to various public and private charities and Catholic Action programs since its inception 38 years ago. It will continue this work in the future.
The Kevin Barry Division has for its main charitable and Catholic Action Program, The James Heneghan Memorial, (a memorial for James Heneghan and all departed Hibernians), in which they aid one or more deacons at St. Meinrad's each year. Our division has donated to St. Meinrad's over the past seven years.
If you are an Irish Catholic and live in Marion County, the Kevin Barry Division would like to have you on its membership roster. If you are interested go to our Application page.
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