Philip Barry,
He
mar 2ndly, 29 Jan 1857, to
Honoria Ponsonby [born 1820]. No issue.
She was widow of
Richard Francis Blennerhassett.
Her son
Rowland Blennerhassett [born 1850]
inherited the Blennerhassett house,
Kells, Co.Kerry.
James and Honoria
lived at
Villa Nuova,
near Caherciveen, Co.Kerry.
It is thought James built it.
Unclear when. He is already at Caherciveen in 1833.
"Mrs. Barry" is listed at "Villa Nova" in an
item in
Kerry Evening Post, March 16, 1864.
James was a Justice of the Peace.
He
is described as Landed Proprietor, M.D., J.P., at his death.
He is described as J.P. at wife's death.
Fenian Rising, 1867:
James, a Catholic,
was a strong supporter of Home Rule and even of the Fenians. (Despite himself being a J.P.)
He helped the Fenians at the time of the
Fenian rising of 1867.
Part 8 of Police reports of 1872
recalls Dr. Barry at the time of the 1867 rising:
"when the Police and myself were harassing ourselves night after night
endeavouring to arrest Fenians in 1867, they, the Fenians, were in his house
and fed there."
In Oct 1868, the
5th Marquess of Lansdowne
visited his Kerry estates around Caherciveen.
He was received at "Villa Nova" by Dr. Barry.
James Butler, JP,
was also present.
See report
in
Kerry Evening Post, 24 Oct 1868, p.3.
1872 election:
James' stepson Rowland Blennerhassett [born 1850]
followed his stepfather in political views, and
became a Home Ruler, and
was elected a Home Rule MP in Feb 1872.
In the 1872 election there were violent mob scenes in Co.Kerry.
Police reports
say that Dr. Barry, J.P., encouraged the mob violence rather than dampened it.
One of the documents (Part 8)
angrily describes him as:
"a disgrace to the Bench"
and recommends he be removed as a J.P.
James dies, 1873:
James' will is dated the day he died, 6 July 1873.
Living Villa Nuova.
He leaves money to his natural daughter:
"my natural daughter Julia Casey".
He died at Villa Nuova, 6 July 1873, age 73 yrs.
See death cert
from here.
Funeral Thur 10 July 1873.
See long obituary
in Tralee Chronicle, 11 July 1873.
See shorter obituary
in Munster News, 12 July 1873.
Admin of will dated 16 Sept 1873.
Honoria dies, 1883:
She died 3 Dec 1883, at Villa Nuova, age 63 yrs.
See death cert
from here.
They are buried in Killavarnogue cemetery, near Caherciveen.
James was Catholic. Honoria was Protestant.
She was possibly buried outside the wall of the Catholic cemetery.
See item
referring to her burial,
The Liberator, 25 Nov 1915, p.3.
See admin of Honoria's estate 1884.
From
[NAI].
Some candidates for her:
Still inhabited as at
[Houses of Kerry, 1994].
Then fell derelict for some years.
In 2025,
Luke Conlan
started a project to restore it.
Restoration documented on Villa Nuova YouTube channel.
Also on Instagram.
Villa Nuova, N of Caherciveen, on
1887 to 1913 map.
See modern
street view
of W gate.
First video about the restoration, July 2025.
From Villa Nuova channel.
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