He played hurling with his local club O'Donovan Rossa and with the Antrim senior inter-county team from 1984 until 1994.
Barr made his debut with the Antrim senior hurling team in 1984, but he enjoyed little success in his first few seasons.
Antrim later defeated Kildare in the All-Ireland quarter-final before lining out against Offaly in the penultimate game of the championship in Croke Park.
Offaly, in spite of losing, recognised the historic nature of the victory and gave Antrim a guard of honour as the team left the field.
With seconds left in the game Barr's side were up by one point, but a last-gasp goal gave Kilkenny a 2-18 to 1-19 victory.
Barr added a fifth Ulster title to his collection in 1994 following a defeat of Down in the sixth successive meeting between these two sides in the final.