Image: Terry as Morrie in Tuesdays with Morrie

It is with great sadness that we note the passing away of our former President and inspirational member, Terry Byrne, on 16th November, 2023.

Terry was the President and Chair of ADA from 2012 to 2017. He adjudicated at countless festivals throughout the length and breadth of the country and was always a supportive, perceptive and empathetic adjudicator.

In his professional career he was an actor and director. Over a ten year period he was the principal director at Andrews Lane Theatre, Dublin with several major successes including Twelve Angry Men, 84 Charing Cross Road, and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.
He also directed I Keano, the record-breaking musical satire.

One of his most long-running successes was John B Keane’s The Chastitute starring the late lamented Mick Lally which ran over a period of three years including long runs at The Gaiety and The Olympia.

As an actor he appeared on virtually every stage in Ireland, most recently in the 50th Anniversary production of The Field at the Gaiety. His performance in Tuesdays With Morrie was acclaimed and the production ran for almost three years playing in theatres large and small throughout the country.

On screen he appeared in many films and TV dramas including, Game Of Thrones, Ballykissangel, Fair City, Agnes Browns, Hitler On Trial, and The Abduction Club. Most recently he had a major role with Amy Huberman in the US film Chasing Leprechauns and was co-lead with Peter Coonan in Penance released in 2017.

He produced six short films based on the life and philosophy of Socrates as reported in the writings of Plato. He wrote the screenplays and directed all six films.

Before entering professional ranks Terry was an active and highly successful participant in amateur drama, initially with Metro Drama Group and later The Temple Players with whom he directed three All-Ireland winning productions - Philadelphia Here I Come in 1984, Private Lives in 1986 and Death of A Salesman in 1988 . He won the best actor award in Athlone twice, playing Willy Loman in Death of A Salesman and Arthur in Journey To The Day in 1973.

He remained an enthusiastic admirer and advocate of the quality of amateur productions and drama festivals.