St. Patrick's

Kevin Barry Award Winners

A.O.H. St. Patrick's Div. #1

Kevin Barry Award Recipents

Award intiated by Past President: R. Murray Fogarty in 1974

The award is in recognition of service whitin Our Local Order in promoting Irish Culture, and the goals of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Cincinnati, that is, Friendship, Unity & Christian Charity.

Past Receipents:

2022 - Bopb Harper

2019 - Gail Sweeney

2016 - Chris Schulte

2015 - Michael Flynn

2014 - Fr. Donald McCarthy

2013 - Greg Male

2012 - Paul Weisgerber

2010 - Gary Schlegel

2009 - Gerry Fritsch

2005 - Brian Sweeney

2002 - Kevin Griffin

2001 - J. Patrick "Spade" Hennessey

2000 - William Grady

1985 - Michael Hall

1979 - Robert F. Farrell, Thomas P. O'Brien, Michael K. Redddington, Bernard J. Rooney

1978 - Rev. John J. Cunningham, MauriceJ. Murphy, Mary (Finn) Ungruhn

1977 - Joseph M. Keane, Phillip McGing

1976 - James W. Daley, Sr., Herman H. Hessler

1975 - Richard H. Ormond, Msgr. Riobert J. Sherry

1974 - Ms. Catherine “Kitty" Brogan, Robert M. Cleary, Margaret M. (McShane) Hannon, Michael J. Kennedy

Jack Flanigan

Frank Garry

Ed McNeill

Jerry Sweeney

Jerry Tracey

William T. O'Neill

David Maher

Pat Mallory

Brief History of Kevin Barry and the Kevin Barry Award

The award is named after Kevin Barry (1902-1920) who was active in the Irish War of Independence. Kevin Barry was 18 years old when he was hanged in Mountjoy jail on November 1^st 1920. His death at such a young age is possibly the most poignant in recent Irish history.

Kevin Barry was born in 1902 in Dublin and grew up in the capital and in County Carlow. He enrolled in Belvedere College in 1916 and joined the Irish Volunteers, in October 1917. In 1919 he enrolled in Dublin University to study medicine. As the Michael Collins led war of independence was developing Barry, as Section Commander, played his part in various raids around Dublin City.

On september 20^th 1920 he took part in one such raid that went badly wrong. A street gun battle ensued and three British soliders were killed. This was very significant in that these were the first Britiish solider deaths in Ireland since the Easter Rising led by Pearse and Connolly. Barry hid under a truck as the British searched for him but was discovered when a passer by, concerned for his safety underneath the huge vehicle, inadvertenly warned the soliders of his whereabouts.

Reports of his tortuere in Mountjoy jail soon circulated but Barry refused to name his comrades. He was given a death sentence but it was widely belived that this sentence would be commuted, and that the British authorities would not dare execute an eighteen year old.

As the deadline approached it became clear that Kevin Barry would be executed. A planned rescue by Michael Collins came to nothing when reinforcements from Dublin Castle were ordered to the prison because of the large crowds that had gathered outside. It was reported that Barry had requested to be shot by firing squad rather than be hanged, which he viewed as a death not befitting a solider. The hangman, Ellis, had to be brought into the country from England, as no-one in Ireland could be found for the job. The calmness and bravery the young Barry showed in the hours leading up to his execution has become the stuff of legend. Despite protestations from clerics and politicians alike he was hanged in Mountjoy Jail on November 1^st, 1920

Just as in the aftermath of the 1916 Eater Rising the British military in Ireland had badly misjudged the situation. Because of Barry's death, two songs were subsequenly written titled with his name using his story as a heroic symbol of the cause for which he died.