Joe Byrne (born 29 November 1953) is a Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) politician who was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for West Tyrone between 1998 and 2003, and again from 2011 to 2015.
Joe Byrne | |
|---|---|
 Joe Byrne in 2012 | |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for West Tyrone | |
| In office 25 June 1998 – 26 November 2003 | |
| Preceded by | New Creation |
| Succeeded by | Kieran Deeny |
| In office 5 May 2011 – 31 December 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Kieran Deeny |
| Succeeded by | Daniel McCrossan |
| Member of Omagh District Council | |
| In office 7 June 2001 – 5 May 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Vicent Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Marty McColgan |
| Constituency | Omagh Town |
| In office 21 May 1997 – 7 June 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Brian McGrath |
| Succeeded by | Barney McAteer |
| Constituency | Mid Tyrone |
| In office 19 May 1993 – 21 May 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Stanley Johnston |
| Succeeded by | Vincent Campbell |
| Constituency | Omagh Town |
| Northern Ireland Forum Member for West Tyrone | |
| In office 30 May 1996 – 25 April 1998 | |
| Preceded by | New forum |
| Succeeded by | Forum dissolved |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 November 1953 [1] |
| Political party | SDLP |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
Political biography
editAfter studying economics at Queen's University Belfast, Byrne became a college lecturer. He also joined the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and in 1993 was elected to Omagh District Council, becoming chairman in 1997.[2]
In 1996, Byrne was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum representing West Tyrone.[2] He was appointed to the Northern Ireland Policing Board and was only 1,161 votes away from taking the Westminster seat of West Tyrone at the 1997 general election.[3]
He held his seat at the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election,[2] but was not re-elected in 2003.[3] In 2005, he also lost his seat on the council.[4] In 2009, he was appointed Chairperson of the SDLP and was re-elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2011.
References
edit- ^ "The Northern Ireland Assembly". www.niassembly.gov.uk.
- ^ a b c "Biography – Joe Byrne". Northern Ireland Assembly. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Big names missing from new Assembly". UTV. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007.
- ^ "Omagh Council Election, 1997–2005". Northern Ireland Elections.