Barry McGrath, known to many as Baz, or in his younger years Ned, was born on the 27th of April 1983 to John and Bernie McGrath, from the parish of Lackagh, in Co. Galway. Barry and his three siblings, Emma (eldest), Lisa and Brian grew up in Cregmore. Never afraid of hard work, Barry spent many days helping out on the family farm. Outside of his family home, he grew up surrounded by the love, support and camaraderie of his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who have always looked out for each other. In due course, Barry extended this love and support, to his nephews Ben (15), Eddie (4) and Timmy (3) whom he adored.
Barry always had a keen interest in sport and he played with his local sports clubs, Turloughmore Hurling Club, Claregalway Football Club and Cregmore-Claregalway Soccer Club where he made lifelong friends, developed skills of team-work and enjoyed the social side of sport as much as time on the pitch. Similarly, Barry made firm friends during his school years in Cregmore and Carnmore National Schools, Presentation College Athenry, National University of Ireland, Galway, and his much enjoyed, one year of study abroad, in Alcala de Henares, Spain. Following his graduation in 2006, Barry moved to Dublin to start a new chapter in his life where he pursued a career in accountancy and it goes without saying he flourished.
Always in search of a new adventure, in 2014, Barry entered a Green Card lottery, which he was lucky enough to win and he began planning his next big move. Unfortunately, Barry’s father John (aged 56) died unexpectedly on 27th May 2014. His loss, left Barry and his family bereft, so much so, that Barry nearly declined his green card, but with the support of his family he reconsidered this decision and on 9th September 2015, arrived in San Francisco. Here, Barry was employed by PWC, where his hard work resulted in him climbing the ranks to ultimately take up the position of Senior Manager in January 2022.
Alongside this, he drew on his interest in sport to establish his community of friends outside of work. He was an active member of St Joseph’s Hurling Club, Sons of Boru Celtic GFC, Legal Aliens Soccer Club, Shamrock Harps Soccer Club and Teetotalers Golf Society and he enjoyed golfing with his friends in Sunnyvale. He also held the role of Treasurer of San Francisco GAA and was appointed Chairman of St Joseph’s Hurling Club in January 2022.
True to form, during his time in San Francisco, Barry successfully established a life and career for himself and along the way impressed as a witty, loyal, caring friend to many. Although he became an American citizen in September 2021, Barry returned home regularly to spend time with family and friends in Galway and always remained proud of his Irish heritage. He embodied the Irish sense of community, through his friendships and roles in the various clubs and organizations along with his willingness to pitch in wherever help was needed, from water-boy, to referee, to delegate.
While inquisitive by nature, Barry was wise with his words; he played his own cards close to his chest, preferring to quietly watch, before offering his own apt and often wry observations. Without doubt, Barry’s loyalty and commitment to his family and friends is a quality that was evident from a young age and was returned tenfold by the many who came to say their final goodbyes, in San Francisco and Galway, following his untimely passing on the 29th of January 2022, in San Francisco. Barry now rests with his father John, in Lackagh (Old) Cemetery, Co. Galway, RIP.