Today a reception was hosted in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Cork to mark the official naming of Mick Barry Road. Last June Cork City Council passed a resolution to name the road linking the Kinsale Road to the South Link Road after legendary road bowler Mick Barry. The Mick Barry Road links the Kinsale Road and the South Link Road in an area famous for road bowling until urban development displaced it.
Mick Barry was born in 1919 in Waterfall, just outside the city. His road bowling career started in 1937 and lasted 60 years until his retirement from active competition in June 1997. During that time he won many awards, including eleven Munster Senior Finals and eight All-Ireland titles. He is also famous for conquering the “Bowler’s Everest” – the Chetwynd Viaduct on the Cork-Bandon Road on St Patrick’s Day 1955. He lofted the 2802 bowl on to the 100 foot high parapet; an incredible feat which required almost superhuman strength, virtually defying the laws of physics. This feat was witnessed by thousands of spectators. The Cork Examiner of March 18th, 1955 carried an extensive report of the event.
Furthermore Mick Barry was a member of the Irish Team that took part in the first even International Championships which were held in the Netherlands in 1969 competing against teams from Holland and Germany. He also competed in the Internationals held in Jever, Northern Germany in 1974. There he won the Gold Medal in the Moors Bowling and the Silver medal for road bowling.
Barry showed his extraordinary lofting skills during many of his scores (games) which gave him a distinct advantage over his opponents. He famously lofted his bowl over a public house at a championship final for the All-Ireland title in 1964 at Dublin Hill in Cork. The pub, known as Mary Ann’s (O’Connell), had to be cleared of patrons for safety. An estimated crowd of 15,000 witnessed Barry’s bowl soaring high over the roof of the pub to land accurately on the correct part of the road of play.
Barry was defeated however in that score by his opponent All-Ireland Champion, Danny McParland of Armagh by the last shot in a thrilling encounter. The following year, 1965, Barry exacted sweet revenge when he defeated McParland in Armagh to take the All-Ireland Crown for the last time. Barry won by a big margin for a huge stake of £1,700. Later Barry said that this was, as far he (Barry) was concerned, that score against McParland was his most memorable bowling experience ever.
Mick Barry worked as grounds superintendent at University College Cork for 47 years. He often trained young students including female students in the College Road carpark for An Bol Cumann of the College.
The area surrounding Black Ash was always a popular location on the south side of the city for road bowling – so it is fitting that, in recognition of his many achievements, the road linking the Kinsale Road to the South Link Road is now officially named the “Mick Barry Road.”
