The President of the Academy, Tom Leahy, has sent condolences on his own behalf and on behalf of the Council and membership of the organisation to the family of Dr. Barry.
Tony Barry had an outstanding career in engineering and business. He grew up in Cork city in the 1930s and 40s, where the family ran a grocery and tea wholesaling business at No. 7 Princes Street. He graduated from University College Cork in 1956 with an honours degree in Civil Engineering.
His initial employment was with Malachy Burke & Co. on a hydro-electric scheme for the ESB in Co. Donegal. In 1957 he joined Cementation Co. Ltd., a London firm specialising in ground civil engineering works. He was thereby involved as site agent or site engineer in major projects, mainly dams, in West Africa, India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand.
In 1963 Tony returned to London and was elected MICE the same year. The following year he returned to Ireland where he joined John A. Wood Ltd in Cork.
The firm was acquired by the publicly quoted Roadstone Group in 1965 and merged with Irish Cement Ltd in 1970 to form the CRH plc.
Tony went on to become Chief Executive of CRH and subsequently its non-executive Chairman. Amongst many other achievements and distinctions Tony was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by his alma mater, UCC, in 1995.
In 1997 Tony was one of a small number of distinguished engineers, active in what was then the Institution of Engineers of Ireland, who contributed to the foundation of the Irish Academy of Engineering.
He continued to support the Academy actively, loyally and generously over the intervening almost quarter century. His advice on a broad range of matters was always keenly sought and welcomed and always freely and kindly given.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.
Photo Source: Irish Life and Lore