KB
Kevin Barry
96quotes
Full Name and Common Aliases
Kevin Barry was an Irish republicans, known to many as "The Boy General".
Birth and Death Dates
Born on January 1, 1902, in Dublin, Ireland. Executed by hanging on November 1, 1920.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: Irish
Profession(s): Soldier, Republican
Early Life and Background
Kevin Barry was born to a middle-class family in Dublin's Portobello area. He was the youngest of five children. His father, Michael Barry, was a solicitor who had served as a captain in the Royal Irish Regiment during World War I. Kevin grew up in a household that valued education and patriotism. From an early age, he developed strong nationalist sentiments and became interested in politics.
Major Accomplishments
Kevin's activism began while still at school. He joined the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and became involved with the Irish republican movement, which aimed to establish an independent Ireland free from British rule. In 1919, Kevin attended a meeting of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, where he was recruited by Michael Collins. As a young man, Barry quickly rose through the ranks of the Irish Volunteers and became known for his bravery and leadership skills.
Notable Works or Actions
Kevin's most notable action was leading a group of volunteers in an attack on British soldiers at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin. However, this event is often overshadowed by his subsequent actions as a prisoner during the Easter Rising. In 1920, Kevin was arrested while attempting to escape from prison and subsequently executed for his role in a bombing campaign against British forces.
Impact and Legacy
Kevin's execution sparked widespread outrage across Ireland, leading to increased support for the republican movement. His bravery and sacrifice made him a national hero, earning him the nickname "The Boy General". In 1921, Michael Collins, then Director of Intelligence for the IRA, said that Kevin was "one of the most promising young men in the organization".
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Kevin Barry's legacy extends far beyond his tragic early death. His actions and ideology continue to inspire many Irish people today, who view him as a symbol of resistance against British rule and oppression. As an influential figure in Irish history, Kevin is widely quoted and remembered for his unwavering commitment to the cause of Irish independence.
Kevin Barry's story serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those fighting for freedom and self-determination. His courage and conviction continue to resonate with people around the world who value the importance of standing up against injustice and oppression.
Quotes by Kevin Barry
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There was a papery film like mothskin stretched over his eyes. He slithered about making goldfish gasps as though traumatised by an otherworld invisible but to his eyes. He wore a corduroy suit in a marmalade shade. He was a cattish sort and slow-gesturing.
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There comes a time when you just have to live among your ghosts. You keep the conversation going. Elsewise the broad field of the future opens out as nothing but a vast emptiness.
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He stops up – he’s had a stunning thought. Is there such a thing, he wants to know, as a positive crack-up? Where the mind breaks down and re-forms again but only to show the world more clearly than before. A mind left calm as a settled pool.
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It was peopled day and night by cirrhotic-looking old crooks and wastrel youths with insane mouths.
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Watch for the glamorous sentence that appears from nowhere – it might have plans for you. Watch out for the clauses that are elegantly strung, for the string of words bejewelled. Watch out for the ripe language-it means your words may be about to go off?
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The years are rolling out like tide now. There is old weather on their faces, on the hard lines of their jaws, on their chaotic mouths.
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He sits in his tomb up top of the Newport hotel. It contains a crunchy armchair, a floppy bed, several arrogant spiders, a mattress with stains the shapes of planets and an existential crisis. But he wouldn’t want to sound too French about it.
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He was a country boy with his wires twisted all wrong. He should have never been let near a city.
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My husband is like one of those second-hand books you buy that’s got all the wrong bits underlined.
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