(photograph courtesy of his son, Patrick Byrne, FCA).
1882-1956, also known as Alfie Byrne, was a politician, who served as both an MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and as a Teachta Dála (TD) in Dáil Éireann. As Lord Mayor of Dublin he was known as the "shaking hand of Dublin". From Seville Place in the Parish of Laurence O’Toole, he was the son of a docker, who died when Alfred was only thirteen years old. Byrne worked as a theatre programme seller and barman before buying his own pub, The Vernon in Talbot Street, Dublin. He entered politics at the age of twenty-seven, being elected to Dublin Corporation for North Dock ward with a large majority. Byrne became an Alderman on Dublin Corporation in 1914. He was a member of the Dublin Port and Docks Board, a significant position for a politician from the Dublin Harbour constituency. He was elected MP for Dublin Harbour in a by-election on 1 October 1915, as an Irish Parliamentary Party candidate. Byrne continued his political career in independent Ireland. He was elected as an independent TD for the Dublin Mid constituency in the election to the Third Dáil in 1922. He was elected the Lord Mayor an unprecedented nine times without a break from 1930 until 1939 (he was lord Mayor during the 1932 Eucharistic Congress). He also served as the Lord Mayor in 1954 and 1955. The by-election caused by his death, was won by his son Patrick Byrne. Two other sons Alfred P. Byrne and Thomas Byrne were also TDs for various Dublin constituencies. Alfie Byrne died in Dublin in March 1956 and his funeral attracted thousands, especially from the ranks of the poor in the inner city and docklands whose cause he championed through a long and colourful career. Died on 13 March 1956 and is buried, as are other papal knights, in Glasnevin Cemetery.
