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Hugh Byrne (Fianna Fáil politician)

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For the Dublin Fine Gael politician, see Hugh Byrne (Fine Gael politician).
For other people named Hugh Byrne, see Hugh Byrne (disambiguation).

Hugh Byrne
Minister of State
1997–2002Marine and Natural Resources
Teachta Dála
In office
November 1992 – May 2002
In office
June 1981 – June 1989
ConstituencyWexford
Senator
In office
1 November 1989 – 25 November 1992
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
Personal details
Born (1943-09-03) 3 September 1943 (age 81)
County Wexford, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil

Hugh Byrne (born 3 September 1943) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician.[1] He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford constituency for a total of 18 years, and a senator for three years.

Born in Gusserane, County Wexford, Byrne was a teacher at Patrician Secondary School in Newbridge for three years before returning to Wexford.[2] He played Gaelic football for the Wexford county team and hurling for the Kildare county team, as well as winning a Kildare senior football medal with Moorefield GAA.[2]

A member of Wexford County Council since 1974,[3] Byrne was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1981 general election for the Wexford constituency.[4] He was a member of the "Gang of 22", a group of 22 Fianna Fáil TDs who opposed the leadership of Charles Haughey; he reported in a 2025 interview that he had received a death threat by telephone for his opposition to Haughey.[3]

He lost his seat at the 1989 general election but was nominated by the Taoiseach to the 19th Seanad. He regained his Dáil seat at the subsequent 1992 election and retained it until again losing it at the 2002 general election to party colleague Tony Dempsey. From 1997 to 2002 Byrne was a Minister of State for Marine and Natural Resources.[5]

Byrne's daughter, Aoife, contested the 2016 general election in Wexford but was not elected.[6] Byrne continues to be involved in Fianna Fáil politics in Wexford, and was part of their local election campaigns in 2024.[7]

In 2023, Byrne survived a stroke.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Hugh Byrne". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Surprise birthday for former Newbridge Patrician's teacher and Moorefield player, Hugh Byrne". www.leinsterleader.ie. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Death threats, reuniting families, and being summoned by Haughey – The Wexford 'upstart' who survived 30 years in politics". www.independent.ie. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  4. ^ "Hugh Byrne". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – (28th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 July 1997. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Aoife Byrne says people let down by government". Irish Independent. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Wexford Fianna Fáil election candidate expecting 'dogfight' in congested New Ross area". Irish Independent. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
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