He got a job as a technician in Cork in 1956 with the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, which oversaw Radio Éireann.
He later transferred to Dublin and continued working as a technician for the newly created Raidió Teilifís Éireann.
Barry worked as part of the outside broadcast unit and was involved in national and international events, such as All-Ireland finals, Olympic Games coverage and the Visit by Pope John Paul II to Ireland.
During Barry's five-year term as Director-General, RTÉ hosted the Eurovision Song Contest four times.
[3] He also oversaw the launch of Teilifís na Gaeilge (now TG4) in October 1996 as well as RTÉ's online services in the same year and the opening of new studios in Cork.