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	(1953-11-29) 29 November 1953 (age 70) [1]
Political party	SDLP
Alma mater	Queen's University Belfast

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.

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.