Jim "Tough" Barry (26 July 1893 – 17 October 1968) was an Irish hurling and football trainer.
[1] James Barry, son of John and Mary (née Lynch), was born in the Lying-in Hospital in Cork on 31 July 1893.
The Barry family lived on Grattan Street in 1893 but later moved to nearby Penrose Square.
He was also a keen sportsman; he was Irish Springboard champion for four years and earned his nickname 'Tough' as a result of his boxing career during which he fought as a Bantamweight.
[6] In 1926, Jim Barry was brought into the Cork hurling set-up as a physical trainer and assistant to Patrick 'Pakey' O'Mahony.
When Cork were knocked out of the championship in 1934, he was asked to train Limerick, they won the League and the All-Ireland.
He trained the Cork county football team to All-Ireland victory in 1945 and also refereed that year's Minor Hurling final.
His Cork side beat Kilkenny in the 1946 All Ireland final but were beaten by the cats the following year.
[5] Barry's Cork returned for another run of multiple All-Ireland's, a three-in-a-row, from 1952-1954 (the middle year also saw another league won).
There was then a barren period for 12 years before Cork returned with a shock victory over old rivals Kilkenny in the 1966 final.
Tough Barry suffered a stroke in October 1968 and died in the South Infirmary a few days later.
[5] Barry came into the Cork set-up as a physical trainer (after earlier success in swimming and boxing) but with time took on more and more responsibility.
He often visited workplaces to talk to employers on behalf of his players, demanded proper meals for his squads after matches, and was renowned for his ability to have them perfectly pitched for the biggest games.
After matches, win or lose, he’d always make sure that the team were sitting down to a good meal and he wouldn’t let anybody interfere.
[7] Partial Reference: Cork GAA website Inter-County SHC Results and Teams.
Partial Reference: Cork GAA website Inter-County SHC Results and Teams.
Partial Reference: Cork GAA website Inter-County SHC Results and Teams.