Barry the greatest bowler of all time
He occupied an unparalleled place in the sport and indeed his fame transcended bowling. In 2010 Cork City Council named a road in his honour. University College Cork, where he worked as head gardener, honoured him with an honorary degree and he was named Supreme Bowler of the Millennium by Ból-Chumann na hÉireann in 1999.
There’s an iconic photo of Barry crouched on his lawn at Waterfall surrounded by a plethora of cups and trophies. That photo says it all. Here was a supreme athlete, oozing confidence in possession of every award his sport could conjure. He lorded bowling like no player before or since. Yes, he was beaten from time to time, but ultimately he had the last word on every opponent.
