Joe Barry (director-general)

Joe Barry
Director-General of RTÉ
In office 20 November 1992 – 18 April 1997
Preceded by	Vincent Finn
Succeeded by	Bob Collins
Personal details
Born	Denis Joseph Barry (1932-04-18)18 April 1932 Dunmanway, County Cork, Irish Free State
Died	6 July 2022(2022-07-06) (aged 90) Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Spouse	Aileen McGahey
Children	4

Denis Joseph Barry (18 April 1932 – 6 July 2022) was an Irish technician and television executive. He was Director-General of national broadcaster RTÉ from 1992 to 1997.

Early life

Barry was born in Dunmanway, County Cork.^[1] His father, Eugene, was a professional tailor while his mother, Catherine, came from a farming family. Barry's father died when he was four.^[2]

Career

Barry left school at 16 or 17. He got a job as a technician in Cork in 1956 with the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, which oversaw Radio Éireann. He later transferred to Dublin and continued working as a technician for the newly created Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Barry worked as part of the outside broadcast unit and was involved in national and international events, such as All-Ireland finals, Olympic Games coverage and the Visit by Pope John Paul II to Ireland. He worked as Head of Planning and Control, Head of Outside Broadcasts and eventually Director of Production Facilities (Television). During Barry's five-year term as Director-General, RTÉ hosted the Eurovision Song Contest four times.^[3] He also oversaw the launch of Teilifís na Gaeilge (now TG4) in October 1996 as well as RTÉ's online services in the same year and the opening of new studios in Cork.^[4][5]

Later life and death

Barry stepped down as Director-General and retired from RTÉ on his 65th birthday in April 1997. In retirement, he was appointed to the RTÉ Authority in 2000 and served for four years, during which time he became its chairperson. He also served on the board of the National Gallery of Ireland.^[6]

Barry died on 6 July 2022, aged 90.^[7]

References

1. "Drimoleague's Dee Forbes gets RTÉ's top job". The Southern Star. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
2. "Joe Barry, former RTÉ director-general who stewarded transition to a 24-hour model and presided over Ireland's Eurovision heyday". Irish Independent. 17 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
3. "The Eurovision in Millstreet: Looking back 20 years on". Irish Examiner. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
4. "TnaG to screen classic All Ireland series". Irish Times. 28 February 1997. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
5. "RTE producers say budget curbs will make them uncompetitive". Irish Times. 24 December 1996. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
6. "Former RTÉ director general Joe Barry changed the face of Irish broadcasting". Irish Examiner. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
7. "Former RTÉ Director General Joe Barry has died". RTÉ News. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.