Career
Barrett was an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion. At club level Barrett enjoyed a lengthy career with Kinsale. In retirement from playing Barrett was a long-serving Gaelic games administrator with the County Board.
Club Barrett played his club hurling with Kinsale and enjoyed some success.
Inter-county Barrett joined the senior hurling team in 1934 and made his debut in the championship that year. In 1939 made a breakthrough in the provincial championship after nearly a decade in the doldrums.
A narrow 4-3 to 3-4 defeat of Limerick gave the title and gave Barrett his only medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted against Kilkenny.
In one of the most iconic championship deciders of all-time, played on the day that World World War II broke out, the climax of which was played in a ferocious thunder storm.
While a draw looked likely as the hour drew to a close Paddy Phelan sent a seventy-yard free in towards the goalmouth. The sliotar was gobbled up by the defence and cleared, but only as far as Jimmy Kelly who sent it straight over the bar for a one-point lead. Immediately after the puck-out the referee blew the whistle and were defeated on a score line of 2-7 to 3-3.
Although defeated in the All-Ireland decider, continued their breakthrough in 1940.
An 8-9 to 6-4 defeat of Tipperary in the decider gave Barrett his first National Hurling League medal. He added a second winners" medal to his collection in 1941 following a defeat of Dublin.
An outbreak of foot and mouth disease severely hampered the 1941 championship. As a result of this were nominated to represent the province in the All-Ireland series.
Barrett lined out in the final against Dublin, however, it turned into a one-sided affair thanks to contributing goals from Johnny Quirke and Ted O"Sullivan.
lieutenant was one of the most one-sided championship deciders of all-time, however, it did give Barrett a coveted All-Ireland medal. He retired from inter-county hurling following this victory. Inter-provincial Barrett also had the honour of being selected for in the inter-provincial series of games.
He made his debut with the province in 1934 and was a regular until his retirement in 1940.
In 1934 Barrett lined out in his first inter-provincial decider. A 6-3 to 3-2 defeat of fierce rivals Leinster gave hims his first Railway Cup medal. faced back-to-back defeats over the next two years, however, the province went on to dominate the rest of the decade.
Four successive final defeats of Leinster between 1937 and 1940 gave Barrett a further four Railway Cup medals. In retirement from playing Barrett became involved in the administrative affairs of the Gaelic Athletic Association.
In 1954 he became vice-chairman of the County Board.
He served in that capacity for five years until 1959. That year Barrett was elected chairman of the Gaelic Athletic Association. He served in that post until 1962. Four years later Barrett was back as chairman of the County Board.
He served in that capacity until 1971, however, he returned for a second stint from 1973 until 1974.
