 It proved difficult at a time when political tensions divided friends and neighbours and boycotts of certain shops and businesses were regular occurrences.In 1935 Barrett married Kitty Barrett (1912–2009) from Fenit and together they had four children.John, the eldest of the family, was a noted sports journalist with "the Kerryman", "the Irish Press" and "the Irish Post" before his untimely death in 1995.