I knew Barry for many years here on FlyOrDie, Barry, Bazza, Baz.  To many of us he was part of the furniture.  Over the years he went by a few names too:  Killer back around 2002, Irish Shoota, and more recently Irishoo.

When you have been around this site for as long as some of us have, certain players become more than just usernames on a screen.  You get used to seeing them in the rooms, watching them play, talking rubbish with them between games, seeing them in leagues and tournaments, having the odd disagreement, then carrying on as normal the next day.  Baz was one of those people.

He was a keen boxer when he was younger and he always had that competitive streak about him, but on FlyOrDie he was also a very good sportsman.  He played a lot of league matches over the years and was one of those players who was normally around, normally available and normally happy to get involved.  Win or lose, you knew you were playing someone who genuinely enjoyed the game and the community around it.

And then there was the talking…

Anyone who spent any real amount of time in the lobbies with Baz will know exactly what I mean.  You could ask him one simple question and somehow end up twenty minutes later hearing a story, another story connected to that story, some completely random bit of Bazza jargon, and then probably a third story before he finally remembered what you had asked him in the first place.  You could go and make a cup of tea, come back and there was every chance he would still be going.  That was just Baz.

But that was also part of his character.  He liked people.  He liked talking.  He liked being involved.  He could make a quiet room feel busy just by being there, and over so many years that becomes something you almost take for granted.

He had his issues in life and, like all of us, he had his difficult moments, but one thing I always respected was that he never seemed to let anything, or anyone, keep him down for too long.  He would bounce back, turn up again and carry on being Baz.

Despite the Irish Shoota and Irishoo names, and his proud Irish family roots, he was born and bred in North London.  He was also Arsenal through and through.  Anyone who knew him knew that as well.  After all the near misses and the years of waiting under Arteta, I am genuinely glad that Baz got to see them finally lift the league trophy again.  I can only imagine how much he enjoyed that.

It is strange trying to put so many years of knowing somebody through a game into a few paragraphs.  People outside communities like FlyOrDie probably do not always understand it, but when you have spoken to, played against and shared the same rooms with someone for twenty years or more, they become part of your life in their own way.

That is what Baz was to a lot of us.

It is difficult to believe he has gone at just 44 years old.  Far, far too young.

He will be missed by me, and I know he will be missed by many others who played with him, talked with him and knew him over all those years.

RIP Bazza.

Gone far too soon, mate. ❤️

Há pessoas que entram na nossa vida de formas inesperadas. Algumas conhecemos no trabalho, outras através de amigos, e outras simplesmente através de um jogo. E, por estranho que possa parecer, algumas dessas pessoas acabam por deixar uma marca que vai muito para além do próprio jogo.

O Irishoo foi uma dessas pessoas.

Conheci-o em FlyOrDie, entre partidas, brincadeiras e muitas horas passadas a jogar. Mas aquilo que fica não são apenas as partidas que jogámos. Ficam as gargalhadas, as conversas, os momentos inesperados e aquela capacidade que ele tinha de nos arrancar um sorriso mesmo quando não estávamos à espera.

E havia algo nele que eu admirava particularmente: o seu fairplay. Num mundo em que tantas vezes se perde a noção de que do outro lado existe uma pessoa, o Irishoo sabia jogar sem perder o respeito, a humildade e a boa disposição. Ganhar ou perder nunca parecia ser o mais importante. O importante era jogar, divertir-se e fazer com que os outros também se divertissem.

E talvez seja isso que torna esta perda ainda mais difícil de aceitar. Porque por detrás de um nickname havia uma pessoa que, mesmo sem nos conhecermos pessoalmente, conseguiu tornar-se parte das nossas memórias.

É estranho sentir a falta de alguém que conhecemos através de um jogo, mas é precisamente aí que percebemos que as amizades verdadeiras não dependem da distância, nem da forma como começam. Dependem dos momentos que partilhamos e da marca que deixamos uns nos outros.

Vou sentir falta de ver o Irishoo por lá. Das suas brincadeiras e, sobretudo, das gargalhadas que tantas vezes me proporcionou.

O jogo vai continuar, as partidas vão continuar, os jogadores vão continuar a entrar e a sair… mas haverá sempre um lugar que ficará vazio.

Obrigado, Irishoo, por todos os momentos, por todas as gargalhadas e por teres sido, dentro e fora do jogo, uma pessoa tão especial.

Não sei se alguma vez tiveste noção do quanto fazias os outros sorrir. Mas eu espero que saibas, onde quer que estejas agora, que a tua passagem por aqui não foi em vão.

Descansa em paz, meu amigo.
As tuas partidas podem ter terminado, mas as memórias que deixaste continuam connosco.
Até sempre, Irishoo. 🖤

It is with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of Barry (“Irishoo”).
He was more than just a player — he was a true companion at the table, always fair‑minded, kind, and respectful. His presence made every game more pleasant and more human.
Irishoo will remain an emblematic name of friendliness and good spirit on FlyOrDie, a reminder of what this community can offer at its best.

My sincere condolences to his mother and his family.
May he rest in peace, and may his memory continue to inspire all those who had the chance to meet him.

When I moved from Reversi to 8‑ball about four years ago, Barry was one of the very first players I met. I liked him instantly. What began as casual games over the tables quickly grew into a real friendship.

Barry was an exceptionally special person. He had a generous heart, a steady kindness, and he formed deep, genuine friendships with so many players at 8‑ball. Every match with him was a pleasure. He rose far above rivalry or ego. Win or lose, he stayed friendly, respectful, and warm. We loved our “morning games” and the conversations that came with them.

Like all of you, I am deeply saddened by his passing. Losing him at just 44 is incredibly hard to accept.
I wholeheartedly echo the beautiful tributes already written here. They capture exactly the gentleman he was.

My heartfelt condolences go to his entire family. I wish them strength and comfort during this painful time.

We will keep Barry in our thoughts and hold his memory in the highest regard.

Rest in peace, Barry. You will be greatly missed.

Thank you for every match, every laugh, and every memory, Barry. You will be missed deeply, champ. Rest in peace.  My sincere condolences to his mother and his family.

Tu va  me manquer mon amis , repause en paix ....