Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect, of Dublin and Melbourne, Australia. John Michael Barry, son of John Barry and Catherine, née O'Hara, of St Margaret's, Dublin, was born in 3 Richmond Place, Rathmines, Dublin, circa1826.  He was educated at the Jesuit School, Tullabeg, Co. Offaly, to which he travelled by canal from Portobello Bridge. On 16 March 1850 he was apprenticed to WILLIAM FRANCIS CALDBECK WILLIAM FRANCIS CALDBECK . After serving his articles he went to Australia with his brother Edward, a veterinary surgeon, who proposed settling there for health reasons. He practised as an architect in Melbourne for nineteen years; buildings designed by him there included the Western Market, St Patrick's Hall and the Catholic church at nearby Kiela.(1) He became a member of the Royal Institute of Victorian Architects and followed the Melbourne Hounds.

Barry, who was unmarried, returned to the family home in Dublin in 1873.(2) He later bought a house in Merrion Avenue, where he was was looked after by his niece Helena, a daughter of Edward Barry. After her death he sold the house and went to live first in Rathmines and eventually with the family of James Swords, CE, at 149 Rathgar Road.  At the time of his death in April 1911 he was staying with his nieces Ellen Roughan and Kate O'Byrne at 18 Tyrconnell Road, Kilmainham. He left an estate of between £4,000 and £5,000.(3)

Addresses:(4) 3 Richmond Place, Rathmines, 1874-1886; 3 Edenville, Blackrock, 1887-1892; 48 Leinster Road, Rathmines, and Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath, 1900;(5) 143 Rathgar Road at time of death.

See WORKS.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from Jones file B40 and was presumably supplied by a member of the family. The material in the file includes photocopies of Barry's indenture to Caldbeck and newspaper cuttings (all undated) about Barry and his work from Australian papers.

(1) Building News 25, 12 Sep 1873, 297.
(2) See note 1, above.
(3)   Inheritance of his estate was disputed and was the subject of a legal case in Dec 1911, see Irish Times, 7 Dec 1911.. 
(4) Jones transcripts from Thom's directories.
(5) Post Office Directory (1900).


2 work entries listed in chronological order for BARRY, JOHN MICHAEL


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Building: AUSTRALIA, MELBOURNE, BOURKE STREET, ST PATRICK'S HALL
Date: ?
Nature: Reconstruction
Refs: Xerox of newspaper cutting in Jones file

Building: AUSTRALIA, MELBOURNE, WESTERN MARKET
Date: ?
Nature: Extensive rebuilding and recasting of interior.
Refs: Xerox of newspaper cutting in Jones file