EDDIE BARRY R.I.P.---A Great Croke clubman

1952 - 2004
 
'Ask not what your club can do for you,
But what you can do for your club'
 
President John F Kennedy's address to the USA epitomises Eddie Barry's mission in life, total dedication to Dr Crokes and all it symbolises in our lives.
When the' 19 Dangerous Dreamers' got together in College Street on November 2nd, 1886 to found Dr Crokes, they passed on the torch for future generations of Crokes.
Eddie was imbued with this spirit when he joined the History Committee that produced Dr Crokes Gaelic Century in 1986 to mark the centenary of our revered club.
 
Since he returned home from Dublin in 1984 he threw his considerable weight, physically and certainly metaphorically, behind the club, giving it his heart and soul.
He was corner forward with the' C' team along with Risteárd Clancy and Donal  O'Mahony. He was a traditionalist, preferring to stay inside ,as Dr Eamonn O Sullivan always advised and not adopting the modern outfield roving style.
 
Eddie was an officer of the club from day one until The Great Referee called him home on October 23rd 2004.
Player, selector, secretary, treasurer, umpire, bagman, lotto man and whatever else needed doing in the club,. He was the smiling face of Dr Crokes who opened up the clubhouse, the pitches and greeted all with courtesy and efficiency.
Nothing for the Crokes was a bother for him and 'no' was redundant in his vocabulary.
It was a labour of love by a man loved by all.
He did his work quietly, no limelight sought, no fanfares; that was his style.
 
Before he went to Dublin for the 2004 All Ireland final he made sure that every person working for Dr Crokes in its so many diverse activities was 'alright for a ticket to Croker'. Few knew about that but all who benefited did appreciate his generosity.
 
How fitting it was to see him laid out in the 1992 All Ireland club champions black jacket and the biro in his top pocket, trademark of his unstinting service to  Dr Crokes and Killarney P.O..
 
They gave him a fitting send off at the removal and burial.
An unbroken  guard -of honour stretched all the ways from the funeral home to the Cathedral as his colleagues from Dr Crokes and Killarney P.O. felt privileged to shoulder his mortal remains in a coffin draped in the black and amber of the club he loved so well.
 
Eddie Barry, an only child had the biggest family of all from his club and workplace. They honoured the man who gave unselfishly of his humanity, an unstinting service above and beyond the call of duty.
 
Dr Crokes is a better place because of people like Eddie, the unsung heroes.
 
The founding fathers would have been very proud of Eddie Barry and people of his ilk.
That's the great tradition of Dr Crokes  for the past 118 years.
 
Go gcúitítear do shaothar leat Eddie.
Suaimhneas na síorraíochta i measc na gCrócaigh ar Neamh
 

28th October 2004