Barney Hughes

Bernard "Barney" Hughes[1] (8 July 1808 – 23 September 1878) was a nineteenth-century Irish industrialist, social campaigner and politician.

[7] Part of Hughes' continuing fame is due to his development and production of cheap and wholesome bread.

The rhyme was inspired by the consequences of the use of beans and peas in the recipe to keep the price of the bread low.

[2] In his early years in Belfast Hughes lived in Lancaster Street in the north of the city.

[13] Although he was sometimes in conflict with the Catholic Church,[2] Hughes gave land for the building of St Peter's Cathedral in the Lower Falls.

[14] He gave a donation towards the erection of a statue, still known locally as the 'Black Man', of fiery anti-Catholic clergyman Dr Henry Cooke.

[19] In June 2007, a plaque commemorating Hughes was erected at his College Square North home.