On This Day / November 2, 1920
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
19201102
Reference Date
19201102
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 2nd November 1920, grim details were reported of the execution of 18-year-old medical student Kevin Barry, turning the lad into a powerful symbol of Irish republican resistance. Edited by historian Dr Éamon Phoenix
Kevin Barry Hanged | On This Day – 2nd November 1920
KEVIN Gerald Barry, the 18-year-old medical student who was sentenced to death by court martial on 10th October, was executed in Mountjoy Gaol at eight o’clock yesterday morning by the English hangman, Ellis.
Up to the last moment many cherished the hope that the lad would not be called upon to make the supreme sacrifice of his young life, but this hope was rudely dispelled by Mr Lloyd George’s refusal of the last appeal for mercy by the Lord Mayor of Dublin.
The boy spent all Sunday and up to the time he was taken to the execution chamber in silent prayer.
Practically his last words were that he was praying for Ireland, his friends and his enemies who had pronounced the edict of his execution.
His death was noble and edifying to a degree, and never once did he flinch during the terrible ordeal.
As early as six o’clock crowds collected in the vicinity of the prison but were only permitted to approach as far as the outer gate.
By seven o’clock there were fully 2,000 people gathered.
The guns from the turret of an armoured car were turned on the crowd who maintained an unmoved demeanour.
Shortly before eight o’clock the crowd had a vivid realisation of the dread tragedy which was about to be enacted.
The knell of the passing bell was heard from the prison tower and a death-like stillness fell over the crowd. It was a moving, thrilling and historic scene.
The clang of the prison gate was heard, and a venerable, stately figure came slowly out of the grim building. It was Canon Waters, prison chaplain.
They pressed about him: ‘Is he dead?’ ‘Did they hang him?’ they asked. He brushed the tears from his eyes and answered simply: ‘Yes.’
There was a most touching and dramatic incident in the prison cell on Sunday when the prisoner’s mother and sisters saw him for the last time.
He was quite calm and composed. He put on his trench coat with belt, as the nearest semblance to a soldier’s uniform in his possession, and he stood to attention and gave his mother a military salute as she left.
(Eamon Phoenix editor’s note: Few incidents of this period stirred Irish national consciousness more than Barry’s execution.
The youth had been involved in an ambush in which three British soldiers died.
In London Joe Devlin worked hard for a reprieve. As he told a republican: ‘I did everything humanly possible for Kevin Barry. I went to the prime minister and made what I thought was an effective appeal….’
The matter went before the cabinet which upheld the death sentence.)
On This Day – 2nd November 1920
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19201102
Reference Date
19201102
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 2nd November 1920, grim details were reported of the execution of 18-year-old medical student Kevin Barry, turning the lad into a powerful symbol of Irish republican resistance. Edited by historian Dr Éamon Phoenix
Kevin Barry Hanged | On This Day – 2nd November 1920
KEVIN Gerald Barry, the 18-year-old medical student who was sentenced to death by court martial on 10th October, was executed in Mountjoy Gaol at eight o’clock yesterday morning by the English hangman, Ellis.
Up to the last moment many cherished the hope that the lad would not be called upon to make the supreme sacrifice of his young life, but this hope was rudely dispelled by Mr Lloyd George’s refusal of the last appeal for mercy by the Lord Mayor of Dublin.
The boy spent all Sunday and up to the time he was taken to the execution chamber in silent prayer.
Practically his last words were that he was praying for Ireland, his friends and his enemies who had pronounced the edict of his execution.
His death was noble and edifying to a degree, and never once did he flinch during the terrible ordeal.
As early as six o’clock crowds collected in the vicinity of the prison but were only permitted to approach as far as the outer gate.
By seven o’clock there were fully 2,000 people gathered.
The guns from the turret of an armoured car were turned on the crowd who maintained an unmoved demeanour.
Shortly before eight o’clock the crowd had a vivid realisation of the dread tragedy which was about to be enacted.
The knell of the passing bell was heard from the prison tower and a death-like stillness fell over the crowd. It was a moving, thrilling and historic scene.
The clang of the prison gate was heard, and a venerable, stately figure came slowly out of the grim building. It was Canon Waters, prison chaplain.
They pressed about him: ‘Is he dead?’ ‘Did they hang him?’ they asked. He brushed the tears from his eyes and answered simply: ‘Yes.’
There was a most touching and dramatic incident in the prison cell on Sunday when the prisoner’s mother and sisters saw him for the last time.
He was quite calm and composed. He put on his trench coat with belt, as the nearest semblance to a soldier’s uniform in his possession, and he stood to attention and gave his mother a military salute as she left.
(Eamon Phoenix editor’s note: Few incidents of this period stirred Irish national consciousness more than Barry’s execution.
The youth had been involved in an ambush in which three British soldiers died.
In London Joe Devlin worked hard for a reprieve. As he told a republican: ‘I did everything humanly possible for Kevin Barry. I went to the prime minister and made what I thought was an effective appeal….’
The matter went before the cabinet which upheld the death sentence.)
On This Day – 2nd November 1920
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19201102
Reference Date
November 2, 2020
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 2nd November 1920, grim details were reported of the execution of 18-year-old medical student Kevin Barry, turning the lad into a powerful symbol of Irish republican resistance. Edited by historian Dr Éamon Phoenix
Kevin Barry Hanged | On This Day – 2nd November 1920
KEVIN Gerald Barry, the 18-year-old medical student who was sentenced to death by court martial on 10th October, was executed in Mountjoy Gaol at eight o’clock yesterday morning by the English hangman, Ellis.
Up to the last moment many cherished the hope that the lad would not be called upon to make the supreme sacrifice of his young life, but this hope was rudely dispelled by Mr Lloyd George’s refusal of the last appeal for mercy by the Lord Mayor of Dublin.
The boy spent all Sunday and up to the time he was taken to the execution chamber in silent prayer.
Practically his last words were that he was praying for Ireland, his friends and his enemies who had pronounced the edict of his execution.
His death was noble and edifying to a degree, and never once did he flinch during the terrible ordeal.
As early as six o’clock crowds collected in the vicinity of the prison but were only permitted to approach as far as the outer gate.
By seven o’clock there were fully 2,000 people gathered.
The guns from the turret of an armoured car were turned on the crowd who maintained an unmoved demeanour.
Shortly before eight o’clock the crowd had a vivid realisation of the dread tragedy which was about to be enacted.
The knell of the passing bell was heard from the prison tower and a death-like stillness fell over the crowd. It was a moving, thrilling and historic scene.
The clang of the prison gate was heard, and a venerable, stately figure came slowly out of the grim building. It was Canon Waters, prison chaplain.
They pressed about him: ‘Is he dead?’ ‘Did they hang him?’ they asked. He brushed the tears from his eyes and answered simply: ‘Yes.’
There was a most touching and dramatic incident in the prison cell on Sunday when the prisoner’s mother and sisters saw him for the last time.
He was quite calm and composed. He put on his trench coat with belt, as the nearest semblance to a soldier’s uniform in his possession, and he stood to attention and gave his mother a military salute as she left.
(Eamon Phoenix editor’s note: Few incidents of this period stirred Irish national consciousness more than Barry’s execution.
The youth had been involved in an ambush in which three British soldiers died.
In London Joe Devlin worked hard for a reprieve. As he told a republican: ‘I did everything humanly possible for Kevin Barry. I went to the prime minister and made what I thought was an effective appeal….’
The matter went before the cabinet which upheld the death sentence.)
On This Day – 2nd November 1920
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
On This Day is a daily column in the Irish News looking back either 50 or 100 years. The column was compiled by Dr Éamon Phoenix from the mid 1980s until autumn, 2022. The Foundation is very grateful to the Irish News for giving permission to reproduce Eamon’s columns. Funding gratefully received from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Magill Trust.
* The Foundation has worked hard to recreate Eamon’s distinctive voice through AI. Since this is an emerging technology, occasional imperfections may be audible.