Barry is the founder and owner of McCabe Design Group, having worked with Tangram and Button design in London and New York during his early career. His projects have spanned numerous industries, from the Irish Expo in Seville in 1992, to the Irish Rock and Roll Museum in 1999. In recent years, the practice has focused on the retail and hospitality sectors, demonstrating their varied skill base in the design of retail garden centres, hotels, pharmacy and wellness interiors, cinema, restaurants, and golf clubs.

Barry studied at Environmental DIT in Dublin and completed an MA in Design Practice in recent years. He is a member of the Institute of designers and has been a visiting lecturer at DIT in Dublin. Barry won the Designer of the year 2007 at the fit out awards.