The Late Sinead Barry Christmas will never quite be the same again in the Barry home at Cregane. As Jim and his wife Helen and daughter Sinead readied themselves for the short trip to attend midnight Mass at Timoleague, Sinead collapsed and died suddenly before they left the house. How different it all had been a short few hours before. She had left Foley's shop and filling station when it closed at 8pm. She was overjoyed with the finishing touches Helen had put to the decorations when she arrived home. So wrapped up in the Christmas spirit was she, that she persuaded all to open their Christmas presents there and then. She unwrapped a cashmere scarf sent to her by her aunt Michelle in Germany, but this was no ordinary scarf. Her aunt had spotted it in a shop in Munich - Maroon in colour, the same as her favourite team, Argideen Rangers. Sinead was born in January, 1987 only child of Jim and Mary Barry. She attended Timpoleague National School and while in infants class, her mother Mary died suddenly, leaving a heartbroken husband to care for his little princess. Jim had the support of both the Barry and Nyhan families as he occupied the dual role of both mother and father. As Jim's business grew and thrived, Sinead travelled the countryside with her father in the oil truck. She developed a great rapport with the customers and had a great memory for places and faces. She was never bored and was involved in everything from a young age. She never complained, even when Jim suffered a time lapse as he chatted with customers. She never asked him to hurry up, as others of her age might do. She endeared herself to class mates and teachers alike during her primary school days. She was the proud girl at Dunmanway in May, 1999 when she played in goal for her school in the Sciath na Scol girl's football final success against Darrara. She accepted the replica trophy on behalf of the team, dressed in their maroon jerseys with the Jim Barry Oils logo printed across the front. She began her second level education at the Covent of Mercy, Clonakilty. The travel bug hit Sinead at this time. To improve her French, she went to France and spent six weeks in a secondary school in Brittany and became totally fluent in the language. She had travelled to nine countries and was planning to visit Romania at Easter. She took part in the Gaisce awards scheme, gaining a bronze medal, awarded for her achievements in physical, social, community and personal development. The students at the convent used to visit the hospital at Clonakilty and chat with the elderly patients in the wards and the day-care centre. While many of the girls were understandably, shy and would rather not be there, Sinead in contrast was totally relaxed as she brought a glint to the eyes of the senior citizens. Sport played an important part in Sinead's life. She could be termed GAA mad. She followed the Cork teams with a passion, especially the hurlers, Sean Og and Diarmuid O'Sullivan were her favourite players. Her bedroom was papered with GAA posters. She also had a soft spot for Michael Owen and Singer Mickey Harte was another pin up. Nearer to home, there was only one team, Argideen Rangers. Her cousin, Barry Harte and Tony Crowley were held in high regard and of late her neighbour, Joe Murphy, was at the top of her list. She was a great reader of a game and her analysis was spot on. No doubt, she inherited this from her grandfather, Jimmy Barry, who had few equals in his passion for Gaelic games. She began working in the shop and filling station in May during her transition year. When she returned to school in September, she continued her association with the shop on Saturdays and during the renovations, she looked forward to moving to the ultra modern supermarket which was awaiting completion. She was a firm favourite with all the customers and was highly thought of by her employers, Jim and Carmel. She loved the summer months in Timoleague and the Harvest Festival was eagerly awaited annually. With the growth of the festival's popularity and the introduction of the dome for the musical events, Sinead had the misfortune of being under age for admission. True to form, she had a solution. It was the summer of the forged £20 notes. The shop had a scanner and Sinead offered her services with the machine so that the festival committee would not be out of pocket. The powers-that-be agreed and Sinead enjoyed "Bog the Donkey" and the other acts for the week. Through the involvement of her aunt Mairead Healy, Sinead immersed herself deeply in the Romanian Orphanage Appeal. As a fundraiser, Sinead through her own ingenuity and her business acumen, inherited from her father, commissioned mugs with the Franciscan Abbey of Tomoleague painted on them. These she sold in the local shops. So popular were these items of pottery, she then turned her attention to fashion. She got polo shirts of different colours with the Abbey logo on them and - as they say in business circles - they sold like hot buns. As chairperson of Timoleague Foroige Club, she initiated a craft fair at the Community Hall. The plan was first discussed back in February and much debate took place as to the timing of the event. The end of October or start of November were the favoured dates, but Sinead mentioned that those dates would clash with Argideen's playing in the county junior championship. All laughed at her optimism - after all this was only February and the season hadn't really began. Her favourite team didn't disappoint her as they blazed a trail through West Cork.The famed Rockies were next to fall and after two epic games with Grenagh at Brinny, it was up to Pairc Ui Chaoimh for the final against Dromina. There was no craft fair until Argideen were finished their hurling commitments, and the event was an outstanding success and a first for Timoleague. In September, Sinead enrolled at Kinsale where her "Mom" Helen Healy-Barry, was a member of staff. Seven years earlier, Jim had married Helen and so began another phase in Sinead's life. Helen was apprehensive at first in the Barry household at Cregane, but Sinead quickly put everything in place when she arrived home one afternoon soon after the wedding and entering the kitchen, said matter of factly. "What's for dinner, Mom?" The start of a very special relationship between Helen and Sinead had began. Helen gave an emotional address at Sinead's funeral Mass, spoke of their special relationship and said that she only had Sinead on loan from her mother. Her dad was her hero and she had hoped to do business studies at third level. She was a great talker. The journey from Timoleague to Kinsale was never boring, as one of the teachers who gave her a spin on the days that Helen was off, remarked " Sinead talked and I listened." She was most popular girl at school. She was lively and good humoured. Though Helen was a member of staff, Sinead did her thing. She never let on for a long while that Helen was her mom. What kind of person is this Miss Healy-Barry? she used to ask the other students in a devilish manner. She got a great kick out of that until the truth was discovered. She enlivened classes in the three schools that she attended. She was strong in her views- a trait inherited from her late mother. She knew what was funny and she always knew where to stop and she never crossed the boundary line. She was matter of fact and she always got straight to the point. Those who knew Sinead were fortunate and privileged. Everyone will have their own memories of her to last a lifetime, such was the impact she made in her all too short stay with us. Sinead, you enriched the lives of so many people. You were a wonderful daughter to Mary, Jim and Helen and a doting sister to your brother James. Slan abhaile, a Shinead. Go ndeana Dia trocaire ar do anam. Courtesy of the Southern Star 6th January 2005 Tweet

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