‘My mother founded the Billie Barry Stage School to support our family — 60 years on, it’s still running fabulously’

As Lorraine Barry prepares for the stage school’s 60th anniversary show, she remembers how her mother supported her and countless other children to realise their dreams following her father’s death Lorraine Barry is now the director of the Billie Barrie Stage School, founded by her late mother. Photo: Arthur Carron My mum founded the Billie Barry Stage School in 1964, shortly before my dad Patrick passed away. He was only 46 when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), and I was four when he passed.

Mum had been in the theatrical business her whole life. When she was five, she was known as ‘Little Billie, the Wonder Child’. But then, as people did in those days, she gave up her career when she got married and became the mum of four children.

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