Redmond Barry

Who was Redmond Barry?

Redmond John Barry was an Irish lawyer and judge who became Lord Chancellor of Ireland; his promising career was cut short by his early death.

He was the third son of Patrick Barry of Hill View, Cork. He was educated at the Royal University of Ireland, was called to the Bar in 1888 and became Queen's Counsel in 1899. He was not related to the statesman John Redmond, although as he cheerfully admitted the widespread belief that he was did no harm to his career. He married Ethel Pyke of Southport in 1895.

Barry was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland in the Liberal government of 1905, and on 6 March 1907 he was elected in a by-election as Member of Parliament for North Tyrone. He was promoted to Attorney-General for Ireland in 1909 then raised to the bench as Lord Chancellor of Ireland in 1911, serving until his death. His professional skill is shown by the detailed answers he gave to the House of Commons in 1910, which show both the width of problem he had to deal with and his efficiency in solving them.

Maurice Healy in his memoir The Old Munster Circuit praises Barry warmly as a gifted and cultivated lawyer, who left behind him more affectionate memories than any other member of the Irish Bar.