The story revolves around two priests, also recognisable as victorious All-Ireland hurlers with Cork, who relinquished potential further triumphs in the sport to pursue a religious calling that took them to Africa. For almost half a century, they’ve kept up with their beloved team, the Rebels, albeit from a distance.
Fr Seanie Barry, hailing from Rathcormac in eastern Cork, shone brightly in 1966 as part of a young Cork team that pulled off a surprise victory against the more seasoned Kilkenny side. On the other hand, from Glen Rovers, Fr Pat Barry (not related to Fr Seanie) displayed strong defensive skills on the 1976 Cork team against Wexford.
At 79 years old, Fr Seanie had already started to follow his spiritual path when he positioned himself as a right half-forward for the Rebels in 1966. His journey as a Cork athlete came to an end when he was ordained a priest with St Patrick’s Missionary Society, the Kiltegans, and went to Africa just five years later.
Fr Pat, who is affectionately known as Fr Paddy among his SMA priest colleagues, trod a somewhat similar path approximately five years later. He was a wing-back in Cork’s first All-Ireland winning ‘three in a row’ team during 1976-78, but his Cork career concluded when he was ordained in October 1976.
Despite affiliating with different religious orders, both men embarked on similar journeys. Initially, they both headed to Nigeria in West Africa. Later, Fr Seanie moved to Nairobi, Kenya, where he currently resides, while Fr Pat relocated to Zambia and now serves in a parish in Lusaka.
Among the myriad of Irish men and women of the 20th century that answered the call to spread the Gospel in regions like Africa and Asia, these two individuals stand out. They are among the few hurlers who decided to leave behind a degree of local and arguably national glory on the sports field to pursue their spiritual calling.
Despite dedicating over half a century to missionary work in Africa, they’ve not lost their enthusiasm for Cork hurling. They’re both fervent followers of the present Cork team, particularly intrigued by their upcoming match against Clare this Sunday.
Looking back at their journey, it started in Rathcormac, east Cork. Fr Seanie first showcased his talent by winning a Harty Cup medal with St Finbarr’s Farranferris. He initiated his club hurling career with Sars, later transferring to Bride Rovers, his home club, which reopened its doors in 1964. He was also a part of UCC’s senior hurling team.
His inter-county journey commenced as a substitute keeper for the 1962 minor team, but by the next year, Fr Seanie had progressed to starting as a right half forward. His time with the Cork U-21 and Intermediate teams led to him being selected for the senior panel, making his first appearance in the 1966 championship.
Fr Seanie’s debut match was against Clare, which ended in a draw due to a last minute goal scored by Justin McCarthy. This propelled them towards encouraging odds at Croke Park, where they were seen as underdogs against the seasoned Kilkenny team.
Their young team, comprising under 21 players including the trio of McCarthys – Charlie, Gerald, and Justin – alongside Fr Seanie, made an astonishing triumph against Kilkenny. Colm Sheehan of Éire Óg scored three goals and Fr Seanie, four points, making him the top scorer of that year’s championship as he bagged his first Celtic Cross. This victory earned them much love and adoration in Cork.
Fr Seanie’s second Celtic Cross was for being an unused substitute when Cork bested Wexford in 1970. As he embraced his calling as a Kiltegan Father soon after and travelled off on a mission to Nigeria, followed by Kenya, his inter-county career came to an end.
After numerous All-Irelands involving Cork, I could only make it to the three consecutive matches in ’76, ’77, and ’78 and then the double in 1990. The majority of the other matches found me in Africa, where keeping track of the matches was a challenge due to poor communication facilities.
I’ve often heard tales about folks resorting to radio for live updates; however, I never did that. I do remember watching the 2013 match between Cork and Clare on TV, where O’Donovan scored the last-minute point that resulted in a tie and Clare eventually won the rerun.
Father Pat Barry, with no relation to Micheal O Muirearchtaigh, I recollect him as a 14-year-old at Croke Park. He watched his namesake succeed in the 1966 Cork victory. However, his intercounty career started five years later.
Fr Pat, hailing from Ballyphehane on Cork’s south, had his father Michael Barry and Uncle Paddy ‘Chancer’ Barry from Blackpool, the city’s northside. Because of these ties, he switched to the prominent Glen Rovers and their sibling football club, St Nicks. He participated in both clubs and county games.
Fr Pat made his debut in football for Cork as a minor in 1969. The next year, he joined the under-21s hurling team as a sub when Cork triumphed over Wexford. Another year on, he accrued an under-21s football medal when Cork defeated Fermanagh. This eventually led to his senior football in 1972.
In 1973, he made his senior hurling debut. Following that, Fr Pat won a national league and bagged three Oireachtas medals for Cork in the subsequent years. However, his clerical studies started influencing his hurling even before he was ordained. In 1976, he had to leave the panel when he was dispatched to England.
“I was ordained in June 1976 and was sent to substitute the parish priest in Canvey Island, so he could take a break. However, when Pat McDonnell got hurt in July, Frank Murphy proposed that I return to join the panel. I declined, stating that I was the sole priest in the parish.”
After being asked if it was possible for him to return if another priest filled in for him over the weekend, he agreed and returned to play against Limerick. He managed to retain his position and celebrated a victory against Wexford in that September’s All-Ireland championship, making him feel quite fortunate. Following his leadership role in Glen Rovers’ county triumph that year, Fr Pat relocated to Nigeria. Despite the distance, like Fr Seanie, he continued to monitor the performance of Cork’s hurling team.
In 1978, he returned in time to witness Cork’s victory over Kilkenny, completing a second consecutive three-year winning streak. “I made a trip home every two years – I was present in 1978 but unfortunately missed out on the 1977 happenings due to my work in a rural parish in the Diocese of Ijube-Ode. The area’s poor communication facilities meant I relied on the Examiner, mailed to me by my mother, to learn about Cork’s win 10 days after the event,” he stated.
Much like Fr Seanie, Fr Pat has attempted to return for most matches over the years. He attended the Centenary Final in Thurles in 1984, but missed the finals in 1986 and 1990. Despite these absences, he noted improvements in communication methods with each passing year.
“Whenever Cork reach the All-Ireland final, I always strive to return home, but I can’t recall ever having listened to missed games on the radio due to lack of availability of RTÉ. I was in attendance for the 2004 and 2005 finals, little did I anticipate it to be the last time Cork would be victorious in an All-Ireland,” he recalls.
GAAGo has proven to be a game changer for both Fr Seanie and Fr Pat. This year, Fr Seanie has been tracking Cork’s entire summer progress from their disappointing start against Waterford to their victorious semi-final game against the same team from his Nairobi home using this service. Fr Pat also expressed high praises for the service, noting how useful it is for following multiple matches during the weekend, even allowing him to watch top games at his convenience in the ensuing week.
In a fascinating twist, both men, who crossed paths at a workshop hosted in Zambia two years prior, provide seemingly identical reactions when quizzed about any potential remorse over deciding to follow their religious beliefs on mission trips, rather than staying put in Cork to chase their promising hurling careers.
Fr Seanie retorts, “I bear no regret,” adding that when he associated himself with the Kiltegan Fathers, he was acutely aware his time as a hurler was in its twilight phase. However, the sport provided him with an abundance of experiences that not many individuals grasp — certainly more than those who were part of the Cork team within the past 18 years can attest to. He’s taken more from his hurling days than he initially anticipated and was largely at peace when it was time to hang up his hurling boots. Looking back, enjoyable memories are all he harbours — absolutely no regrets.
Fr Pat chimes in, vehemently dismissing any notion of regret. Rather, he expresses appreciation for the sole All-Ireland he won. He found himself fortunate to rejoin the Cork hurling team in 1976, a notably fruitful year for him that also saw him leading the Glen to a county victory. Although his stint with Glen in ’78 and ’80 saw them lose two county finals, he felt immense joy in returning to the pitch which fueled a sense of completion for his stint as a hurler.
The conversation then steers towards how they regard the existing Cork squad and their odds against Clare. Fr Seanie opines, “Cork seems the stronger contender to me. Drawing from the two semi-final matches, the Cork-Limerick bout displayed superior skill and pace compared to Clare-Kilkenny.” He insists on Cork’s victory was deserved and well-earned. However, he emphasises that anything could transpire within a final — reflecting on his 1966 underdog triumph against their favourites, Kilkenny. He muses he’d be delighted to witness a Cork victory — a feast for the eyes that has been nearly 19 years in the making, since their previous All-Ireland win in ’66.
Rev. Pat, at present spending time at home, had been offered a chance to attend the match, yet he decided to take in the spectacle alongside his family. He’s scheduled to depart for Zambia on Monday. His prediction leans towards Cork, believing they stand a chance to triumph if they can replicate their semi-final performance against Limerick.
“In my view, should Cork exhibit the same fervour and devotion demonstrated in the match with Limerick two weeks past, they are likely to emerge victorious. However, they’ll need to sustain this level of zeal throughout the entirety of the 70-minute game.
“If one were to make a prediction at this point, they might suggest a even possibility of either side winning. However, ultimately, the team that puts forth their optimum performance on the day will have the upper hand. Both teams will undeniably be vying with determination. In particular, Cork, who have been patiently anticipating a win for 19 years. Frankly, it feels high time for Cork to seize an All-Ireland title.”