Education
Queen"s University Belfast.
Queen"s University Belfast.
After studying economics at Queen"s University Belfast, Byrne became a college lecturer. He also joined the Social Democratic and Labour Party (Social Democratic and Labour Party), and in 1993 was elected to Omagh District Council, becoming Chairman in 1997. In 1996, Byrne was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum representing West Tyrone.
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.
He held his seat at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1998, but was not re-elected in 2003. In 2005, he also lost his seat on the Council.
In 2009, he was appointed Chairperson of the Social Democratic and Labour Party and was re-elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2011.
1st Northern Ireland Assembly. 4th Northern Ireland Assembly.