Glenn Barr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Glenn Barr
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| Born |
Albert Glenn Barr
19 March 1942 |
| Died | 24 October 2017 (aged 75) Derry, Northern Ireland
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| Nationality | British |
| Years active | 1969–2017 |
| Organization | Ulster Workers' Council |
| Known for | Politician, loyalist activist, community worker |
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Notable work
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Beyond the Religious Divide (co-author) |
| Title | Joint Deputy Leader of the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party |
| Term | 1975–1978 |
| Predecessor | Ernest Baird |
| Successor | none |
| Political party | Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Ulster Defence Association |
| Years of service | 1971–1975 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Commands held | North-West Brigade |
| Conflict | The Troubles |
Albert Glenn Barr OBE (born March 19, 1942 – died October 24, 2017) was a politician from Derry, Northern Ireland. He was known for supporting the idea of Ulster nationalism, which means Northern Ireland becoming an independent country. During the 1970s, he held important roles in both the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party and the Ulster Defence Association. This meant he was involved in both mainstream politics and loyalist community groups.
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Early Involvement with the UDA
Glenn Barr first became well-known at the start of a difficult period in Northern Ireland, called The Troubles, in 1969. He helped make sure Protestant workers did not join certain strikes.
He later joined a group called the Loyalist Association of Workers. From there, he became involved with the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). The UDA was a loyalist group. Local worker groups in Derry helped form the UDA in that area. Glenn Barr became a leader, known as a Brigadier, for the UDA's North-West Brigade. This group was later called the Londonderry and North Antrim Brigade.
Political Career
Around the same time, Glenn Barr also entered politics. He joined the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party (VPUP). In 1973, he was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly. This Assembly was set up under an agreement called the Sunningdale Agreement.
Glenn Barr was the only UDA member to be elected to a government body after the old Stormont Parliament ended. People believed he won the election because of his work with trade unions and in the community, not because of his UDA connections.
Leading Opposition to the Sunningdale Agreement
Glenn Barr quickly became a key figure against the Sunningdale Agreement. He played a major role in the Ulster Workers' Council strike. This strike helped bring down the new power-sharing government. Barr was the chairman of the Ulster Loyalist Central Co-ordinating Committee. This group included representatives from the Ulster Workers' Council, politicians, and loyalist groups. They directed the strike. He later said that this group could have formed a temporary government for an independent Northern Ireland.
Challenges and Controversies
Glenn Barr was often seen as someone who did things differently in Unionist politics. He was suspended for three months from the United Ulster Unionist Council (UUUC). This happened after he supported a different candidate in an election, even though the UUUC had its own candidate.
During his suspension, Barr went on a trip to Libya with other UDA members to raise money. They met with Muammar Gaddafi, who was then supporting the Provisional IRA. Barr claimed that Gaddafi was interested in giving money for an independent Northern Ireland. However, many unionist politicians criticized this trip.
Party Changes and Resignations
The VPUP split after its leader, William Craig, suggested working with the Social Democratic and Labour Party. Glenn Barr was one of the few main figures who stayed loyal to Craig. When the UDA seemed to disagree with Craig's ideas, Barr resigned from the UDA.
Barr had disagreed with Ian Paisley during the 1974 strike. He publicly kept his distance from a strike organized by Paisley's group in 1977. Along with David Trimble, he became deputy leader of the Vanguard party. He held this position until the party broke up in 1978. However, he did not join the Ulster Unionist Party with Craig. Instead, he returned to his roots with the UDA.
Returning to Community Work
After the failure of the second strike, Glenn Barr was invited back into the UDA. Many in the movement felt he had been right about his opposition to the failed plan. They believed he would be a political asset. After the Vanguard party ended, Barr returned to a leading role in the UDA. He became involved in the New Ulster Political Research Group (NUPRG).
While there, Barr helped create a document called Beyond the Religious Divide. This document aimed to set out a plan for Northern Ireland to become independent. Barr became increasingly disappointed with what he saw as the lack of care from unionist politicians for their voters. He also felt the voters were too blindly loyal. He famously said, "They could have sent a donkey with a Union Jack tied to its tail up the Shankill Road, and we would have voted for it."
The UDA did not recommend the independence proposals to its members. Because of this, Barr moved away from the NUPRG. In 1981, he left politics completely to focus on community work in Derry.
Later Years and Community Focus
Glenn Barr started a program for young people who faced challenges. This program offered them low-wage jobs and training. It was part of a government scheme. Barr and Paddy Doherty, who started a similar program in the Catholic Bogside area, later faced some criticism for these large training schemes.
Barr briefly returned to public life in 1994. He joined his old friend Andy Tyrie to help raise money for the Ulster Democratic Party. In 1998, he took a seat on the Parades Commission. This group makes decisions about parades. Many nationalists criticized this choice because of Barr's past with the UDA. Some people even resigned from the board in protest. However, Barr himself resigned on April 24, 1998, along with another loyalist, Tommy Cheevers. This happened not long after the Commission had banned a parade from a nationalist area.
Barr continued to work on community projects in Derry. He ran the Maydown Youth Training Project Ltd. This project aims to help reduce high unemployment among young people in Derry. He also worked closely with Paddy Harte, a former Irish Government minister. They worked together to raise awareness about Irish Catholic people who fought in both World Wars.
Death
Glenn Barr passed away at Altnagelvin hospital on October 24, 2017, at the age of 75. Many people paid tribute to him. DUP MP Gregory Campbell praised his hard work in the community. Sinn Féin MP Elisha McCallion said he was "on a journey of reconciliation" and expressed sadness at his death. Social Democratic and Labour Party leader Colum Eastwood praised his dedication to peace and reconciliation. He was buried in Altnagelvin cemetery after a service at Ebrington Presbyterian church in Derry.
He was married to Isa, and they had four children together.
