Joe Byrne (politician)

Joe Byrne MLA

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
Personal details
Born	(1953-11-29) 29 November 1953 ^[1]
Political party	SDLP
Alma mater	Queen's University Belfast
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Joe Byrne (born 29 November 1953) is an Irish Nationalist politician in Northern Ireland, representing West Tyrone between 1998 and 2003 and since 2011 in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Political biography

After 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

↑ http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/mlas/details.aspx?&aff=2490&per=16&sel=1&ind=1&prv=1
1 2 3 "Biography - Joe Byrne". Northern Ireland Assembly.
1 2 "Big names missing from new Assembly". UTV.
↑ "Omagh Council Election, 1997-2005". Northern Ireland Elections.

Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by New creation	MLA for West Tyrone 1998 - 2003	Succeeded by Kieran Deeny
Preceded by Kieran Deeny	MLA for West Tyrone 2011–2015	Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Eddie McGrady	Chairperson of the Social Democratic and Labour Party 2009–2012	Incumbent

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)

Leadership

Leaders	Gerry Fitt (1970–1979) John Hume (1979–2001) Mark Durkan (2001–2010) Margaret Ritchie (2010–2011) Alasdair McDonnell (2011–2015) Colum Eastwood (2015–present)

Deputy Leaders	John Hume (1970–1979) Seamus Mallon (1979–2001) Bríd Rodgers (2001–2004) Alasdair McDonnell (2004–2010) Patsy McGlone (2010–2011) Dolores Kelly (2011–2015) Fearghal McKinney (2015–2016)

Chair	Eddie McGrady (1971–1973) Denis Haughey (1973–1978) Bríd Rodgers (1978–1980) Sean Farren (1980–1984) Alban Maginness (1984–1990) Mark Durkan (1990–1995) Jonathan Stephenson (1995–1998) Jim Lennon (1998–2000) Alex Attwood (2000–2004) Patricia Lewsley (2004–2007) Eddie McGrady (2007–2009) Joe Byrne (2009–2012) John Dallat (2012–2013) John Clayton (2013–2015) Rosemary Flanagan (acting, 2015) Roisin Lynch (acting, 2015) Ronan McCay (2015–present)

General Secretary	Paddy Wilson (1970–1972) John Duffy (1972–1975) Dan McAreavey (1975–1980) Don Canning (1980–1981) Bríd Rodgers (1981–1983) Eamon Hanna (1983–1986) Patsy McGlone (1986–1992) Gerry Cosgrove (1992–2016)

Elected representatives

Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly	Alex Attwood Sinead Bradley Mark H. Durkan Colum Eastwood Claire Hanna Nichola Mallon Daniel McCrossan Patsy McGlone Colin McGrath Justin McNulty Richie McPhillips Gerry Mullan

Members of the UK Parliament	Mark Durkan (Foyle) Alasdair McDonnell (Belfast South) Margaret Ritchie (South Down)

Related organisations