J.J. Barry of Ballincurry Co. Tipperary, who died in December 1994 at the age of 70 was one of Ireland’s most renowned middle-distance athletes.  Born in Joilet, Illinosis, his family moved to Ireland, when he was two years old to live in The Commons, Ballingarry when his mother inherited her father’s small farm.
By the age of twenty John Joe Barry had already enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame taking many junior and senior titles in his stride and easily beating the best! of his contemporaries at one mile upwards.  One of the most charismatic athletes of his time he was affectionately to be known as the “Ballincurry Hare”.
John Joe might as easily have been called – “The Trail Blazer”.  He was the first Irishman to gain sponsorship when in 1949 he enrolled as an athletic sponsorship to an American university Villanova, near Philadelphia.  His subsequent success on American running tracks almost fifty years ago, paved the way for many Irish runners to cross the Atlantic in the hope of developing their athletic talent and furthering their education.  Little did he know what he was starting.
A new Irish Brigade of talented middle distance athletic were to follow in his footsteps.  Names such as Noel Carroll, Frank Murphy, John Hartnett, Eamon Coughlan, Marcus and Sonia O’ Sullivan, to name but a few are among a listing of Villanova’s who over the forty odd years were to win World, European and national titles by the score setting all sorts of other records in the process.
John Joe Barry broke the Irish record over three miles, two miles and one mile.  In 1949, he won the British A.A.A. title over three miles and also won the U.S. championship over one mile distance.  He broke the world record for the two mile and represented at both 1500 meters and 5000 meters at the 1948 Olympic Games in London.  He wrote an autobiography naturally called the “Ballincurry Hare”, which chronicles the ups and downs of his colourful lifestyle and career.
In the early 1950’s, John Joe Barry was an influence on the formation of my own athletic ambitions, even though we had never met at this stage.  He was my hero for I witnessed his stirring victory over two of America’s best – Fred Wilt and Curtis Stone, in Landsdown Road in 1949, a race that will remain etched in my memory for ever.
Because John Joe had been a student there I decided to enroll at his Alma Mater Villanova in September 1954 and to take my chances in the tutelage of his coach James Jumbo Elliot.  I am indebted forever to John Joe for I was perhaps more amenable to advise and went on to become an Olympic Champions.  His friendship and support were also important factors during my first year in America and I easily recall his good humour.  His stories were embellished somewhat for that was very much the man. 
It is entirely fitting that his sporting contemporaries, good neighbours and wide circle of athletic friends, should join together to ensure that his name and fame is commemorated in stone.  The John Joe Barry memorial to be erected at Blackcommon, The Commons a short distance from where he was reared.  Tipperary is paying a deserved tribute to one of Ireland’s greatest athletes. 

R. M. Delaney

Ronald M. Delaney – Olympic Gold Medalist in 1500 meters 1956, former World mile record holder (indoors) and World University Champion 1961 at 800 meters.

Ronnie Delaney’s delivery of oration in Ballingarry at funeral of J.J. Barry