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Peter Barry | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Barry in 1984 | |
| Tánaiste | |
| In office 20 January 1987 – 10 March 1987 | |
| Taoiseach | Garret FitzGerald |
| Preceded by | Dick Spring |
| Succeeded by | Brian Lenihan |
| Deputy leader of Fine Gael | |
| In office 14 January 1991 – 5 February 1993 | |
| Leader | John Bruton |
| Preceded by | John Bruton |
| Succeeded by | Nora Owen |
| In office 14 September 1977 – 26 March 1987 | |
| Leader | Garret FitzGerald |
| Preceded by | Tom O'Higgins |
| Succeeded by | John Bruton |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 14 December 1982 – 10 March 1987 | |
| Taoiseach | Garret FitzGerald |
| Preceded by | Gerry Collins |
| Succeeded by | Brian Lenihan |
| Minister for the Environment | |
| In office 30 June 1981 – 9 March 1982 | |
| Taoiseach | Garret FitzGerald |
| Preceded by | Ray Burke |
| Succeeded by | Ray Burke |
| Minister for Education | |
| In office 2 December 1976 – 25 May 1977 | |
| Taoiseach | Liam Cosgrave |
| Preceded by | Richard Burke |
| Succeeded by | John Wilson |
| Minister for Transport and Power | |
| In office 14 March 1973 – 2 December 1976 | |
| Taoiseach | Liam Cosgrave |
| Preceded by | Michael O'Kennedy |
| Succeeded by | Tom Fitzpatrick |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1981 – June 1997 | |
| Constituency | Cork South-Central |
| In office June 1977 – June 1981 | |
| Constituency | Cork City |
| In office June 1969 – June 1977 | |
| Constituency | Cork City South-East |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1928-08-10)10 August 1928 |
| Died | 26 August 2016(2016-08-26) (aged 88) Cork, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 6, includingDeirdre |
| Parent | Anthony Barry (father) |
| Alma mater | University College Cork |
Peter Barry (10 August 1928 – 26 August 2016) was an IrishFine Gael politician who served asTánaiste from January 1987 to March 1987,Deputy leader of Fine Gael from 1977 to 1987 and 1991 to 1993,Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1982 to 1987,Minister for the Environment from 1981 to 1982,Minister for Education from 1976 to 1977,Minister for Transport and Power from 1973 to 1976 andLord Mayor of Cork from 1970 to 1971. He served as aTeachta Dála (TD) from 1969 to 1997.[1]
Barry was born inBlackrock, Cork, in 1928. He was the son ofAnthony Barry, aFine GaelTD and a well-known businessman. He was educated atChristian Brothers College, Cork and then became the major shareholder in the family company,Barry's Tea.
He was first elected toDáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD for theCork City South-East constituency at the1969 general election. He would go on to win a Dáil seat at eight successive further general elections, changing constituency toCork City in 1977 andCork South-Central in 1981. When Fine Gael came to power following the1973 general election, he was appointedMinister for Transport and Power. In 1976, he becameMinister for Education. In 1979, afterGarret FitzGerald had become leader of Fine Gael, Barry was elected deputy leader. From June 1981 to March 1982, he served asMinister for the Environment.[2]
From December 1982 to 1987, he wasMinister for Foreign Affairs. In this capacity, he was heavily involved in the negotiations which resulted in the 1985Anglo-Irish Agreement. He also became the first joint chairman of the Anglo-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference, established under the Agreement by the Irish and British governments. Following theLabour Party's withdrawal from the coalition government in 1987, Barry becameTánaiste, for a brief period. He was the first member of Fine Gael to hold the office of Tánaiste.
When FitzGerald resigned as Fine Gael leader after the1987 general election, Barry was one of three candidates (along withAlan Dukes andJohn Bruton) who contested the party leadership. Dukes was the eventual victor.
He retired at the1997 general election, at which his seat was held for Fine Gael by his daughterDeirdre Clune. She later served as aSenator representing theCultural and Educational Panel, but resigned in 2014, on being elected as aMember of the European Parliament forIreland South.
In 1986, the fifteenUnionist members of theHouse of Commons in Westminster resigned in protest at theAnglo-Irish Agreement, causing by-elections. To ensure contests in each constituency, Wesley Robert Williamson changed his name by deed poll to Peter Barry, deliberately taking the name of the Irish Minister held responsible for the negotiations, and stood in the four constituencies,North Antrim,South Antrim,East Londonderry andStrangford, under the label "For the Anglo-Irish Agreement". Despite not campaigning, he won over 6,000 votes.[3]
His sister, Terry Kelly, served asMayor of Limerick from 1983 to 1984.[4]
| Civic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Thomas Pearse Leahy | Lord Mayor of Cork 1970–1971 | Succeeded by Timothy J. O'Sullivan |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister for Transport and Power 1973–1976 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Education 1976–1977 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for the Environment 1981–1982 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Foreign Affairs 1982–1987 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Tánaiste 1987 | |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Deputy leader of Fine Gael 1977–1987 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Deputy leader of Fine Gael 1991–1993 | Succeeded by |
