Barry O'Hanlon is a fictional character in the Irish soap opera Fair City, portrayed by Pat Nolan. One of the show's original characters, Barry first appears in 1989. Barry is usually a nice guy but a little bit downtrodden. He has been summarised as "the unlucky in love ex-teacher who now runs the local paper and used to be involved with Niamh before Paul swept her off her feet (that's only the half of it)". Backstory Barry first appears as a member of the O'Hanlon family. He is a son of Mary. In his younger years Barry studied for the priesthood, but later decided to become a schoolteacher against the wishes of his domineering mother. Storylines Linda O'Malley In 1991 Barry began dating Linda O'Malley, who became pregnant, and they got married in 1992, even though he knew the unborn child wasn't his. Sadly, baby Alice died a year after birth and it soon emerged that Bela Doyle was the biological father. The marriage did not last. Niamh Cassidy Barry recovers over time by throwing himself into his job. In 1996 he finds himself falsely accused when schoolgirl Niamh Cassidy, a student in his class seduces him and they have a passionate clinch. Niamh then lies that Barry was the one who seduced her and he nearly loses his job, but she eventually tells the truth. In 2000 Barry finds himself attracted to Niamh for real when he starts to get to know her better after helping her to move on from her breakup with Leo Dowling. They begin a relationship and become engaged, but as the wedding day approaches, Niamh starts to have second thoughts and she realises she has feelings for Paul Brennan, who is O'Hanlon's best friend. She calls off the wedding, but decides to stay in a relationship with him. However, later she breaks up with him in public and starts seeing Paul. When Barry finds out, he is left a broken man and spends Christmas at home drinking and feeling depressed. Niamh and Paul are shocked to see him like this and confront him. After that O'Hanlon decides to get on with his life, so he returns to his job and soon becomes a dedicated principal. Sorcha Byrne In 2004 O'Hanlon meets Sorcha Byrne and begins a relationship with her. Little did he know Sorcha has an affair with Ross O'Rourke, a 19-year-old Leaving Cert