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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Antrim => Topic started by: FionaLorraine on Thursday 26 January 06 20:27 GMT (UK)
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Does anyone know when Bob or Robert Barr, secretary of Celtic Football Club in Belfast, was born?
He was living in Celtic Park around 1917.
Would he be in a street directory for any years before this?
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Fiona:
You might want to try this site. I am sure they can help some.
http://www.belfastceltic.net/index.html
Pat
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Hi fiona
In the Glenravel Online "Timelines" (see resources) for 1890's there is newspaper story from January 1896 that features a Robert Barr.
"Robert Barr was accused of assaulting John Skelly, a linesman at a football match between the Mineral Water Company's team and Western United. He was discharged."
If it is the same Robert Barr and we assume he was in his early 20's then his birth would be first half of 1870's.
Gary
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Thanks very much Gary and Pat
I know that Bob Barr should fit somewhere into my family tree. He should be connected to the Barrs in Antrim. The problem is that I have a record of 2 Bob Barrs both of which could be connected - one 1859 and one 1875. If I knew the age of Bob on a certain date I think I could tie this down!
Thanks for you input - it may sway me to look at one date rather than the other!
Fiona
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Hi Fiona
The Robert Barr I mentioned would most likely be the one born in 1875, that would make him 20/21 a prime age for a football hooligan..... rather than 36/37 when he should really know better :-)
Regards
Gary
PS I will shortly be buying a history of Distillery FC (founded in 1880) another of the famous old clubs of Belfast, written and published by Dawson Simpson , if I see any reference to Robert Barr I will be back in touch.
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Hi Fiona
Hope this is of help to you, can you attend?
There will be an open meeting of the Belfast Celtic Society next Thursday (23rd March 2006) in The Linen Hall Library, Belfast (opposite City Hall) at 7.00 p.m.
Football journalist and author Padraig Coyle is joined by the Distillery FC historian Dawson Simpson to examine the contribution made by both Celtic and Distillery to the social fabric of working class Belfast many years ago.
Also taking part will be Neal Garnham of the University of Ulster who has extensively researched the role of football in Irish society before partition. The actor Alan McKee will also be doing some readings on the evening.
Tickets cost £5 / £3 (Advance Booking Recommended).
You can book your tickets online or by credit card from the Linen Hall Library Box Office (phone 028 9032 1707) by credit or debit card; or by post from The Linen Hall Library, 17 Donegall Square North, Belfast BT1 5GB. Alternatively call in at the desk in the Library.
Perhaps if you can't attend you could use the above contact names and numbers to ask about Bob Barr, I am sure they would be pleased to hear about your interest and any information you might have for them? ;)
Gary
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I believe this man has family decendants living in the Demesne area of Ballymena (could be Demesne Avenue?). I remember hearing of a connection to Belfast celtic some years ago.
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hi i read this from the site that pat reid posted for you
1903 and 1904 - Mr. Bob Barr was appointed part-time Secretary in succession to the late Mr. Alf Lockhart. Lost to Linfield in Shield Final, 4-1.
Mr. Bob Barr was appointed full-time Secretarv in May, 1913, and we all hope he may be long spared to wield the pen, as there is no more popular official in Irish, or even cross-channel football, than the genial and courteous "Bob." He has completed 25 years' service last May, and is getting "younger" every day.
Maybe you could get a guess of his age from this
:)
colette
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Gary
It would be fantastic to go to this. I'll have to see what my babysitter's schedule is. Otherwise I think i will just ring up. My father said that many Barrs worked in the Celtic Club Office who were related to Bob. We were cousins of a sort but not that close to get free tickets apparently.
I seen that Bob visited a Crumlin Fair in about 1914 [I think - haven't put my hands on this note for a while]. He listed his address as Celtic Park but Demesne Avenue may be more like it. I'll have a nosey around there for the Barrs next time.
My Barrs were from Crumlin/Antrim/Glenavy direction - I just can't get the right link to Belfast where a lot moved - there are so many of them.
Thanks so much for the help. Oh and I seem to have missed your last post Gary in January! You think it may be the Bob born in 1875 I should look at. Hooligan indeed - you'll never find them in my family tree!...but I think you may be right..when we get old we couldn't be bothered getting into trouble.
Fiona
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Hi Fiona,
Found the following link.
http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/belfcelt.html
"The club was controlled by the Barr family, and secretary Bob Barr is credited with having steered the club through the tortuous religious and political circumstances surrounding its formation. The club was run on strictly non-sectarian grounds."
Also found other links on google but did not have time to follow up.....I followed Celtic from a distance as a very young lad.
joe
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Thanks Joe for the web site reference. If I knew when he died then I could get a death record for him and get his age...mmm
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There is a Robert Barr back in my family, b. 1887 and if I have it right, lived to a ripe old age - died in 1984! He was married to Mary McErlean b. 1895 d. 1989 ... another good long life. Children I have recorded as: Robert (b. ??) , Annie (b 1918) James (b. 1921) Daniel (b. 1922), Kathleen (b. 1925) and Joseph (b. 1930). Would love that this is the "Bob Barr" secretary/manager of the great Belfast Celtic.. I descend from Robert's sister Mary (b. 1890). Am still trying to identify Robert's father's (John Barr) ancestry ... so far I have John's parents as Daniel Barr (b. 1827) and Maria Weir (b. 1830) .. would love to hear from anyone who has more information either on Robert Barr or the ancestry of Daniel Barr and Maria Weir.
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Thanks Joe for the web site reference. If I knew when he died then I could get a death record for him and get his age...mmm
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Lots more online since this thread was started in 2006 :)
This should help with the original query-
Belfast News-Letter, 12 May 1947: MR. ROBERT BARR Mr. Robert Barr, secretary of Belfast Celtic Football Club, died suddenly yesterday morning at his residence, St. James’s Park, Belfast. ... had not been good health for some time, but was present ... the inter-city match between Celtic and ...
GRONI's index shows- D/1947/55/1007/91/169 Robert Barr, age 72, death 11 May 1947 Belfast
Irish Times, 12 May 1947: … morning of Mr. Robert Barr who had been secretary Belfast Celtic A.F.C. since 1893 ... one the best-known figures to Irish football. Mr. Barr's health had been indifferent for some time but attended the Inter-City Cup game between Celtic and Bohemians at ...
Belfast Telegraph, 12 May 1947: ... championship, and had many other successes to his credit as a road racer. Mr. Barr is survived by his wife and four sons- Mr Robert Barr, L.D.S.: Dr. Arthur Barr, Coventry: Mr. Edward Barr, L.D.S., Uxbridge. and Mr. Winston Barr. There are also three brothers- Mr. John Barr, principal of St. Anthony's P.E.S., Willowfield, and Mr. Joseph and Mr. Patrick ...
13 May 1947: The funeral of Mr. Robert Barr, secretary of Belfast Celtic F.C., which took place to-day from St John's R.C. Church, Falls Road. to Milltown Cemetery, was followed ...
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Barr Robert of Moyanna Saint James Park Belfast secretary and manager died 11 May 1947 Probate Belfast 1 August to Mary Barr widow. Effects £1813 3s. 5d.
Barr Mary of Moyanna saint James Park Belfast and of 10 Brunswick Terrace Bassett Road Uxbridge Middlesex widow died 29 December 1957 at Hillingdon Hospital Hillingdon Middlesex Probate London 15 September to Arthur Francis Barr medical doctor and Joseph Barr garage proprietor. Effects in Northern Ireland £3391 11s. Re-sealed at Belfast 17 December 1958.
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Woodvale/Springfield_Road/179835
Son John James Winston born 1912 Springfield Rd.-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1912/01494/1607655.pdf
Son Robert Gerard born 1913 at Moyanna-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1913/01455/1594437.pdf
Son Arthur Francis born 1914 at Moyanna-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1914/01414/1581262.pdf
Son Edward Aloysius born 1915 at Moyanna-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1915/01381/1568135.pdf
Died aged 5 weeks-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1915/05275/4464732.pdf
Another son Edward Aloysius born 1916 at Moyanna-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1915/01381/1568135.pdf
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Robert Barr, National School Teacher, son of John Barr, linen lapper, married 1910 to another teacher, Mary Magennis-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1910/09988/5632596.pdf
Possibility for Robert in 1901-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Clifton/Yarrow_Street/963461
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Bob Barr's son Edward Aloysius living in Uxbridge was my father. The Barr (my) family had a home near Uxbridge (26 Blossom Way, Hillingdon) for 50 years. I know what happened to all his other sons (my uncles). Let me know if you want more info.
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Hi, if you wish to connect, I have DNA on ancestry and a large Barr family tree with DNA links. My father (who is in his late 80s) remembered that we were connected to your family...I think it must have been told in family history. We have some old photos from books in the library.
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I would be very interested in knowwing more about our family tree as I know nothing prior to my grandfather Bob Barr's history