| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Seán Bairéid | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Midfield | ||
| Born | 1 January 1911 Kinsale,County Cork,Ireland | ||
| Died | 16 February 1979 (aged 68) Midleton,County Cork,Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Occupation | Victualler | ||
| Club | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| Kinsale Carrigdhoun | |||
| Club titles | |||
| Cork titles | 0 | ||
| Inter-county | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
1934-1941 | Cork | 19 (2-04) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 1 | ||
| All-Irelands | 1 | ||
| NHL | 2 | ||
John Barrett (1 January 1911 – 16 February 1979) was an Irishhurler, selector andadministrator. His career includedAll-Ireland Championship victories as a player and later as a selector with theCork senior hurling team.
Barrett first played for theKinsale club at adult level in the late 1920s. He claimed his first major silverware with the club in 1930 when Kinsale defeatedTracton by 6-04 to 3-03 to secure theSouth East Junior Championship. After surrendering the title toPassage the following year, Barrett won a second divisional championship winners' medal in 1933 after a 5-04 to 1-02 victory overRochestown. He subsequently claimed aCounty Junior Championship title after lining out in the 5-04 to 0-01 defeat ofSkibbereen. Barrett also lined out with divisional sideCarrigdhoun in theCounty Senior Championship.
Barrett first played for Cork when he was drafted onto the junior team during the1932 Munster Junior Championship. He made his debut on 8 May 1932 when he lined out at left wing-back in Cork's 8-06 to 1-02 defeat ofWaterford and later claimed aMunster Championship medal after being switched to right wing-forward for the 1-04 to 1-02 victory overClare in the final.
Barrett's performances at junior level brought him to the attention of the senior selectors and he was drafted onto the team during the1934 Munster Championship. He made his championship debut on 10 June 1934 in a 7-05 to 5-06 defeat ofTipperary.
After five years as a first team regular, Barrett claimed his firstMunster Championship medal after a 4-03 to 3-04 victory overLimerick in the1939 Munster final. On 3 September 1939, he lined out as midfield partner toteam captainJack Lynch when Cork suffered a 2-07 to 3-03 defeat byKilkenny in the"thunder and Lightning" All-Ireland final.[1][2]
Barrett collected his first national silverware when Cork defeated Tipperary by 8-09 to 6-04 to win the1939-40 National League title. He was selected at left wing-back when Cork surrendered their provincial title to Limerick in the1940 Munster final.
After winning a second successive National League medal after a 4-11 to 2-07 victory overDublin in the1941 league final, Barrett lined out in the secondAll-Ireland final of his career on 28 September 1941 when he again partnered Jack Lynch at midfield against Dublin. He ended the game with anAll-Ireland medal after the 5-11 to 0-06 victory.[3] Barrett ended the season by lining out in Cork's 5-04 to 2-05 defeat byTipperary in thedelayed Munster final.[4] He brought the curtain down on his inter-county career following this defeat.
Barrett had yet to make his championship debut for the Cork senior team when he was selected for theMunster inter-provincial team in advance of the1934 Railway Cup final. He won his firstRailway Cup medal as a non-playing substitute after Munster's 6-03 to 3-02 defeat ofLeinster.
After defeats in1935 and1936, Barrett claimed his second winners' medal as a non-playing substitute after a 1-09 to 3-01 victory over Leinster in the1937 Railway Cup final. It was the first of four successive Railway Cup titles for Barrett, with the subsequent victories all coming on the field of play.[5]
Barrett was added to the selection committee of the Cork senior hurling team in advance of the1952 Munster Championship. The campaign was a successful one with Cork claiming thetitle after a 1-11 to 2-06 defeat of Tipperary.[6][7] Cork subsequently claimed their firstAll-Ireland Championship in six years after a 2-14 to 0-07 defeat ofDublin in thefinal. Barrett was retained as a member of the selection committee for the following two seasons, with Cork securing three successive All-Ireland victories after defeats ofGalway in1953 andWexford in1954.[8]
In retirement from playing Barrett became involved in the administrative affairs of theGaelic Athletic Association. In 1954 he became vice-chairman of theCork County Board. He served in that capacity for five years until 1959. That year Barrett was elected chairman of theMunster Council. He served in that post until 1962. Four years later Barrett was back as chairman of the Cork County Board. He served in that capacity until 1971, however, he returned for a second stint from 1973 until 1974.[9]
On 16 February 1979, Barrett died suddenly age 68 while inspecting cattle at a farm just outsideMidleton. He was survived by his wife Breda, four daughters and two sons. After the news of his death, leading figures from the world of hurling paid tribute to him.GAA presidentCon Murphy described him as "a tremendously sporting and determined player, full of ability strength and courage."[citation needed]