Hugh Byrne (Fianna Fáil politician)

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]