Stephen Barrett (Irish politician) facts for kids

Stephen Declan Barrett (December 26, 1913 – September 8, 1976) was an important Irish politician, a lawyer, and a judge. He was a member of the Fine Gael political party.

Who Was Stephen Barrett?

Stephen Barrett was born in Cork, Ireland, on December 26, 1913. He was the second of three children. His father, George Barrett, worked as a writer for the Cork Examiner newspaper. Later, his father became the editor of another newspaper called the Evening Echo. Stephen's grandfather, Joseph Barrett, was also a well-known person in Cork. He served as the Lord Mayor of Cork from 1905 to 1906.

Stephen's Education and Early Work

Stephen went to school at the Christian Brothers School, Cork. After that, he studied at University College Cork and then at the King's Inns. The King's Inns is a special place where people train to become barristers. A barrister is a type of lawyer who speaks in court. Stephen became a barrister in 1946.

Before becoming a lawyer, Stephen worked in journalism. From 1931 to 1947, he worked for the Cork Examiner newspaper. He started as a reporter, then became a sub-editor, and finally, the chief sub-editor. He also wrote articles for the Daily Mail and the Daily Express newspapers.

Stephen Barrett's Political Journey

In 1947, Stephen left journalism to work as a barrister in the Munster area of Ireland. He also started his political career.

Becoming a Local Councillor

From 1950 to 1973, Stephen was a local councillor for the Fine Gael party on the Cork Corporation. This means he helped make decisions for the city of Cork. In 1961, he was even chosen to be the Lord Mayor of Cork, just like his grandfather.

Serving in the Dáil Éireann

Stephen tried to become a member of the Dáil Éireann (Ireland's main parliament) twice before, in 1948 and 1951, but he wasn't successful. However, in 1954, he was elected as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork Borough area. A TD is a member of the Dáil Éireann. He won this election, called a by-election, after another TD passed away.

Stephen was re-elected in every general election after that. He continued to serve as a TD until 1969, when he decided to retire from politics.

Life After Politics

After leaving the Dáil, Stephen Barrett continued to contribute to public life.

Working as a Judge

From 1969 to 1972, he was part of the RTÉ authority, which oversees Ireland's national broadcaster. In 1973, he became a temporary judge for the Circuit Court. The Circuit Court handles many different types of legal cases. In 1974, he was made a permanent judge, first in Sligo and later in Galway.

Other Interests and Writings

Stephen was also a member of An Taisce, an organization that works to protect Ireland's environment and heritage. He also helped start the Newsboys Club in Cork.

He was a writer too! He wrote a funny weekly series for the Cork Examiner called Peering at things. He also wrote many short stories and articles. In 1973, he published a book called The almost people, and he wrote a one-act play called Credits due.

Stephen Barrett's Family Life

In 1939, Stephen Barrett married Elizabeth Magnier. They had two daughters together. One of their daughters, Stephanie, married Edward M. Walsh. Edward Walsh later became the first president of the University of Limerick. The Barrett family lived in a house called Lucerne on Douglas Road in Cork.

Stephen Declan Barrett passed away on September 8, 1976, in the North Infirmary hospital in Cork.