Papers of the Kevin Barry Memorial Committee


This collection comprises the papers and correspondence of the Kevin Barry Memorial Committee. The Committee was formed to raise funds to create a memorial to Kevin Barry (20 January 1902–1 November 1920). Barry, a medical student at University College Dublin, was executed for his part in an ambush which resulted in the deaths of three British Army officers. The Committee commissioned Harry Clarke Stained Glass Limited to create a stained glass window dedicated to Kevin Barry and the other students and graduates of University College Dublin who lost their lives in the struggle for Irish Independence. The window, designed by Richard King, was erected in Earlsfort Terrace and unveiled on 1 November 1934. In 2010, the window was conserved, restored and relocated in the Charles Institute at Belfield, the current campus of University College Dublin.

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Letter from Kevin Mangan to John V. Bourke


Letter from Kevin Mangan, Richmond Avenue, Milltown, to Bourke advising that he may not be able to attend the next meeting of the committee but stating his strong belief in choosing a theme or central idea to guide the selection of designs for the individual panels within the stained glass window.

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Letter from Charles B. Simmonds


Letter from C.B. Simmonds, manager, Harry Clarke Stained Glass Limited, to Bourke, The National University, 49 Merrion Square. He will not be attending the unveiling ceremony but other representatives from the company will be present. He is arranging for the window to be draped and will give his attention to the inscription plates as soon as the committee have made a decision.

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Letter from Ua Rathghaille to John V. Bourke


Manuscript letter from Ua Rathghaille, 40 Herbert Park, Dublin, informing Bourke of his inability to attend a meeting of the committee and commenting on the suggestion that the committee should provide photographs of the stained glass window to subscribers. He feels this would be too costly.

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Letter from Professor M. Hayden to John V. Bourke


Manuscript letter from Professor Mary Hayden, Windsor Road, concerning the selection of scenes to be depicted in the memorial window.

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Letter from Thomas Murphy to John V. Bourke


Letter from Thomas Murphy, President of University College Dublin, to John V. Bourke responding to enquiries made by Bourke regarding the possibility of transferring the Kevin Barry Memorial stained glass window from Earlsfort Terrace, the former main campus of UCD, to Belfield, the current main campus of the university. Murphy advises that the window will be moved in due course and discusses the selection of a suitable location.

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Letter from Kevin Mangan to John V. Bourke


Letter from Mangan, Richmond Avenue, Dublin, informing Bourke that he will be unable to attend the next meeting of the Committee and mentioning stained glass workers in Youghal who may be able to carry out the work on the memorial window.

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Letter from William P. Fay to John V. Bourke


Manuscript letter concerning a final report from the Kevin Barry Committee including the price estimate received for the stained glass window, attempts made to seek official approval from the Governing Body of University College Dublin, possible sites for the window and the history of the project.

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Kevin Barry memorial: announcement at N.U.I. convocation : erection in College


Newspaper cutting featuring an article concerning the approval of the Kevin Barry Memorial by the Governing Body of University College Dublin entitled ‘Announcement at N.U.I. Convocation: Erection in College’. [From the Irish Press]

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Note on the design of the memorial window


Undated manuscript note on headed paper of the Commerce Society, University College Dublin, discussing the commencement of the construction of the window and the proposed design to be submitted to the committee. The note has not been signed by or addressed to a specific individual but is presumably an intra-committee communication.

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Note on the memorial window


Brief undated manuscript note, written in Irish, concerning the Kevin Barry stained glass window and providing a very brief description of its background. Written on National University of Ireland headed paper.

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Memorials


Newspaper cutting from the Irish Press criticising the delay of the Governing Body of University College Dublin in erecting the stained glass window memorial dedicated to Kevin Barry.

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Composition of the memorial window


Manuscript list of the scenes to be depicted in the stained glass window accompanied by a rough sketch indicating the positioning of each individual scene within the panels. The sketch appears on the reverse of a leaflet for Harry Clarke and Sons Stained Glass Artists and Church Decorators, Dublin.

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The Kevin Barry memorial window


Document provides a detailed description of the scenes to be depicted in each of the eight individual panels of the stained glass window, to be designed and executed by Harry Clark Stained Glass Limited, North Frederick Street, Dublin. The descriptions outline the subject matter of each of the panels along with specifications relating to the composition and the symbolism of the scenes.

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Readers' views: Kevin Barry memorial


Newspaper cutting from the Irish Press featuring a letter sent by Joseph J. O' Donoghue IV of New York concerning the delays in the erection of the Kevin Barry Memorial and enclosing a cheque of $100 to be expended on the memorial window.

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The Kevin Barry memorial window


Loose page extracted from a University College Dublin magazine, featuring a black and white print copy of a photograph of the memorial window taken by Keogh Brothers Limited. The copy also features manuscript annotations suggesting possible changes to the window's design.

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The Kevin Barry memorial


Press copy of a statement signed by Bourke clarifying the date of the unveiling ceremony as the preparations were not complete for the intended date of Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March 1934. The statement also briefly describes the scenes to be depicted in the memorial window.

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Invitation to the unveiling of the Kevin Barry Memorial


Unaddressed invitation to the unveiling of the Kevin Barry Memorial in the Council Chamber, Earlsfort Terrace, University College Dublin on 1 November 1934, written both in English and in Irish.

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Kevin Barry Memorial File


Manuscript document entitled ‘Kevin Barry Memorial File’ concerning the decision of the Governing Body of University College Dublin to approve the erection of a stained glass window as a memorial to Kevin Barry and detailing discussions which took place on the other forms the memorial could potentially take, such as a scholarship or grant offered to students.

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Letter from C.B. Simmonds to John V. Bourke


Letter from C.B. Simmonds, manager, Harry Clarke Stained Glass Limited, to Bourke concerning additional charges relating to the completion of the stained glass window and the cost of supplying two inscribed tablets to accompany it.

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Letter from Dr John F. Harrington to John V. Bourke


Letter from Dr John F. Harrington, Andersonstown, Belfast, to Bourke concerning the attempt to contact former members of the 'H' Company First Battalion, Kevin Barry's former company, who were also fellow students, in order to request their presence at the unveiling ceremony.

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Letter from Denis J. Coffey to John V. Bourke


Brief manuscript letter from Denis J. Coffey, president of University College Dublin, to Bourke concerning the Kevin Barry stained glass window. He has just received Bourke’s letter but will be glad to see him about it.

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Letter from John V. Bourke to Denis J. Coffey


Letter from Bourke to Denis J. Coffey, president of University College Dublin, informing him that the stained glass window is ready and proposing that the official unveiling ceremony be held on 1 November 1934. The letter also discusses the cost of insuring the window.

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Letter from Dr John F. Harrington to the Kevin Barry Memorial Committee


Manuscript letter from Dr John F. Harrington, Andersonstown, Belfast, to the Kevin Barry Memorial Committee discussing his attempts to gather people who attended college with Kevin Barry, who were also in the 'H' Company First Battalion of the Irish Volunteers, and requesting information about the unveiling ceremony.

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