World of golf bids farewell to Dick
Mr Barry, who was 82, hadendured poor health for several years and passed away peacefully over the weekend at Nazareth House nursing home.
In his professional life, he was staff officer of Cork County Council and later Mallow Town Clerk and was renowned for his efficiency and hard work in both positions.
As a sportsman, he played rugby for Mallow in his younger days but golf became his consuming passion once he joined the local club. He was a very useful left hander and played for a time off a 3 handicap and was a member of a MallowJunior Cup team narrowly beaten in the final of the Munster Cup at Mallow.
In his role of Honorary Secretary, he played a major role in the creation of the new 18-hole golf course and later fulfilled the role of resident with distinction. He was elected to the Munster Councilof the GUI in 1956 and shortlyafterwards began a 33-year tenure as Honorary Secretary.
Dick’s work in this area was nothing short of legendary. He kneweverybody, he never forgot a name and while he could bedirect at times, he was alsounfailingly courteous and strove to be fair and up front with everybody. The rules of golf were all-important to him and woe betide anyperson who flirted with or in any way undermined the principles of amateurism. Because of these characteristics, he earned the trust and respect of everybody in the game and was regarded as a true friend of a whole host of players, administrators and golf reporters over the years.
Nor did he confine his efforts strictly to Munster Branch affairs. He did a huge amount of work to promote junior golf throughout the 32 counties.
He captained the Irish Boys team and served as the GUI’sconvenor of junior golf. In his honour, the Boys Interprovincial Championship is contestedannually for the Dick Barrytrophy.
Dick was so widely respected in all facets of the game that he was elected a member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews where he was constantly indemand for his knowledge and advice.
“Dick’s forte was the rules of golf,” said his fellow Mallow man, close friend and former GUIPresident Percy Shannon.
“He was very firm but he also had a very good sense of humour which he used in many-a-difficult situation. He would never allow you to get ahead of yourself. Just after I was elected chairman of the Munster Branch, and maybe feeling a bit full of myself, the pair of us went down to Killarney for some business or other. Dick was warmly greeted and then someone turned to him and asked who this other person might be. ‘He’s my driver,’ came the reply.”
Dick Barry is survived by his wife, Nora, daughter Dorothy, son Michael, grandson Kieran andsister Mary Daly.
The Golfing Union of Ireland formed a guard of honour when the hearse arrived at St Mary’s Church, Mallow, last evening.
Requiem Mass at 2pm today will be followed by burial in St Gobnait’s Cemetery.
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