BROADCASTER Gerald Barry was the best political correspondent in Irish journalism, loved by everyone who got to know him, mourners at his funeral were told.
Gentleness, kindness, empathy and selflessness were at his core, broadcaster and columnist Vincent Browne said of his former colleague and friend.
“He could get people to talk to him because they could trust him, trust his discretion and trust him to be fair and measured,” he told mourners in St Stephen’s Church in Killiney. “He had great analytic ability and great judgment of issues, events and people, and he had courage.”
Mr Barry, who presented the This Weekprogramme for many years on RTÉ Radio 1, died on Monday at the age of 63, after a long illness.
His funeral yesterday was attended by, among others, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan and many former journalistic colleagues from RTÉ and newspapers. The President was represented by her aide-de-camp, Col Mick McMahon, and the Taoiseach by his aide-de-camp, Comdt Mick Treacy.
Browne described Mr Barry as a wonderful colleague at the Sunday Tribuneand said he trusted him completely.
He said Mr Barry, while open to others, never “let them in” and never spoke about his private anxieties. “I think now he was a very lonely person for much of his life. He lived alone, he had no partner in life and although he was close to many, there was that distance. I don’t think he realised how much loved he was.”
It was “such a pity” Mr Barry did not marry or have children, as he would have been a devoted and supportive spouse, and a wonderful father. He did have girlfriends, among them former PDs leader Mary Harney, who remained very fond of him, Browne told mourners.
Recounting his friend’s long struggle with illness, Browne repeated the words he spoke during his last visit to the hospital: “Gerry, thank you for being such a great friend for so long. Thank you for being an anchor in my life, for all those years. I will grieve for you and miss you for the rest of my days.”
In 1970, Mr Barry started work in RTÉ, where his work included landmark interviews with Garret FitzGerald and Charles Haughey. He became deputy editor of the Sunday Tribunein 1983 but returned to RTÉ as presenter of This Weekin 1995.
Fr Donal Neary, an old school colleague at Belvedere College, paid tribute to Mr Barry’s great integrity and keen mind, as well as the role he played in helping younger colleagues in their careers.
The attendance included Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, former senators Maurice Manning and Pat Magner, Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly, economist Colm McCarthy and businessman and former RTÉ journalist Fintan Drury. The chairman of the RTÉ Authority, Tom Savage, was present as was director of news Ed Mulhall, news editor Michael Good and managing director of radio, Clare Duignan.
The Irish Timeswas represented by editor Geraldine Kennedy, and the paper's political editor Stephen Collins was also present. Former media colleagues who attended included Tina Roche, Mike Burns, Seán O'Rourke and Chris Glennon.
Mr Barry, who is survived by his brother Brian, was buried at Shanganagh Cemetery.