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| An interesting article about Kevin Barry's life, especially his school days in Jesuit-run Belvedere can be found in the Jesuit's . | |||
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Revision as of 15:37, 10 November 2005
- For the New Zealand boxing trainer Kevin Barry, see Kevin Barry (boxer)
Kevin Barry (January 20, 1902 - November 1, 1920) was an Irish medical student who fought in the Irish War of Independence, becoming one of its earliest and most remembered martyrs. Barry was born in Dublin, and grew up both there and in rural County Carlow. He entered Belvedere College in 1916. During his second year there he joined the Irish Volunteers, and initially was charged with delivering motivation orders. In 1919, he enrolled at Dublin University to study medicine.
During the war against the British, Barry was promoted to Section Commander, and took part in various raids for arms throughout the city. On September 20, 1920, he took part in an ambush of a lorry of British soldiers. In the ensuing gunfight, six of them were killed, making them the first military deaths the British had suffered in Ireland since the Easter Rising. Barry was captured hiding under a truck after his comrades fled the scene. The British reportedly tortured him in an attempt to find out the names of other men involved in the raid. Barry refused to tell, and was hanged in Mountjoy Prison on November 1, despite a reported request to be shot as a soldier. He was 18 years old.
The execution was used by Sinn Féin to help foster anti-British sentiment throughout the country. Many students his age joined the Irish Republican Army following his execution.
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".
- 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
- 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"
- 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
External links
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