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| '''Kevin Barry''' (], ] - ], ]) was an ] medical student who fought in the ], becoming one of its earliest and most remembered ]s. | |||
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| ⚫ | Barry was born in ], and grew up both there and in rural ]. He entered ] in 1916. During his second year there he joined the ], and initially was charged with delivering motivation orders. In 1919, he enrolled at ] to study medicine. | ||
| During the war against the ], Barry was promoted to Section Commander, and took part in various raids for arms throughout the city. | |||
| On ], ], he took part in an ambush of a lorry of ]. In the ensuing gunfight, six of them were killed, making them the first military deaths the British had suffered in Ireland since the ]. | |||
| ⚫ | 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 ] on ], despite a reported request to be shot as a soldier. He was 18 years old. | ||
| The execution was used by ] to help foster anti-British sentiment throughout the country. Many students his age joined the ] following his execution. | The execution was used by ] to help foster anti-British sentiment throughout the country. Many students his age joined the ] following his execution. | ||
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Revision as of 04:00, 20 March 2006
- For the New Zealand boxing trainer, see Kevin Barry (boxer). For the American football player, see Kevin Barry (football player).
Kevin Barry (20 January, 1902 - 1 November, 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 University College Dublin 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 20 September, 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 1 November, 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) (sometimes "companions")
- Certain 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
External links
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