Bishop backs drive to name road

A ROAD bowling-mad bishop is backing a campaign to get a Cork city road named after the sport’s most legendary exponent.

Bishop John Buckley has joined the growing chorus of people who want to name a road near the Kinsale Road roundabout in Cork after the legendary Mick Barry.

The 91-year-old famously lofted a bowl over the top of the viaduct on the Bandon Road.

A campaign has been mounted to name what is known locally as the Black Ash Road, adjacent to Bus Éireann’s park and ride service, as the Mick Barry Road. Officially, the road which connects the South Link Road and the Kinsale Road, has no name.

The idea was mooted by Kinsale Road-based businessman Dan O’Mahony.

From the 1940s onward this section of road become popular with bowlers. Bishop Buckley said: “Mick Barry was a legendary bowler. He was to bowling what Christy Ring was to hurling.”

Mick Barry bowled for an amazing six decades.

When Ból Chumann na hÉireann was formed in 1954 he went on to win a number of Senior Munster championships and All-Ireland titles.

“Mick Barry is a legend,” Mr O’Mahony said.