The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-12-15
A SYDNEY PATRIARCH.
Near the Century Mark, Tells Of 1.-THE
..+ Wicklow chisf.'

Near the Century Mark, Tells Of 1.-THE
49,. Wicklow Chief"
William Byrne, the grand old man OF
"The Rocks" celebrated his sSth birth
day on October -. when his children,
grandchildren, and great-grandchil-
dren entertained him at a birthday
party at his. residence, "Pulfrey," 81
Princess street. Sydney, Australia.
During the day hundreds OF callers
congratulated Mr.. Byrne on his BIRTH
day. and he was also the recipient Of
innumerable letters of felicitation.
Though he has attained such a fne old
age. he is in SPLENDID health, is in
possession Of all his faculties, can
walk without aid. read without glass
es,: and converse interestingly on con-
genial topics for hours.
He is native of Parramatta, where
he was born on October 4; 1908. His
father was a native Of County Carlow,
Ireland, and was connected with the
E'9S movement. When tho New South
Wales Corps was formed for special
service. Patrick ByrnA was one Of the
first who enlisted, arriving in Sydney
just ten days after Governor Phillip
assumed his gubernatorial duties. On.
January. rs, 1903, he took part in the
arrest and deposition Of Governor
Blight, in which Major Johnston was
nominally the leader. The father died
Fin June, 1908; and in the Same year
the subject Of this sketch was born.
The. family remained at. Parranatta
till young William was four years Of
age, and. in, 1879, Mrs. Byrne having
married a Mr. Sykes, they removed to
Appiah where MIR: Sykes had obtained
grant Of land. 49,: ~. -. :: az
They We're the first settlers in that
locality: Some time after there was
considerable difficulty with the blacks.
The first white man the family met at
Appin was Wn.. Tyson. Mr.. and Mrs.
Sykes remained at Appin for about ten
years, when they: came to Sydney, re-
siding first in George street, subse-
quently removing TO The Rocks"
where Mr.. Byrne- has resided for the
last -forty-two years. In 1886 he mar
fled a: Miss Byrnef daughter of An
drew Byrne, of County Wicklow, Ire
land, the ceremony being performe
by the Ven. Archdeacon McEncroe in
st. Jeseph's Church, which occupies
the site ON which ST. Mary's Cathedral
now stands, and their family consists
of three sons and four daughters.
T. That they are a long-lived family
will be seen from The fact that Mr..
Byrne's eldest sister was % years and
! months at the time of her death;
his youngest sister was 49,, the eldest
brother 81, his -half-brother, George
Sykes 95; his brother Johns widow
/ is now 81, and his brother Georges
widow is 30. Mr.. Byrne's wife died
when she was; in her Ssth year. His
mother died in 1856, leaving 20 grand
children and So Observation-Disclosures.
When Mr.. Byrnt came to Sydney lie
started business as a bookseller in
George street. in which he amassed a
competency. He then went in for land
speculation, purchasing several prop
critics near the Argyle Cut, in Princes
street, in one OF which he is now liv-
ing. He knew: Michael Dwyer, the
Wicklow Chieftain, we'll, and can talk
Interestingly about the time Mr.. Dwyer
occupied the position Of Town Consta-
BILE, in Liverpool. At the celebration
Of the '9s Centenary he presented DR..
Mccarthy, the chairman of the COM
mittee, with letter written by tho
brave chieftain. Mr.. Byrne was ona
of the original committee that, I'M
der the presidency Of Father Connolly,
in. June. 1920, decided to erect a
Catholic Chapel" (since st. Mary's
CathedraD in Sydney, and he is the
only member Of, that committee now
living.
He was also member Of the conf
mittee for the erection Of st. Patricka
Church, and took a prominent part
both, at the laying Of the foundation
stone: Of that historic edihcs,: ana al
the opening ceremonies. In 1870 Mr.
.Byrne inaugurated the series OF annu-
al dinners in connection with the celc-
bration Of st. .Patrick's Day.. the first
dinner being held in the Court house
in .Castlereagh street, Mr.. Byrne has
been q staunch and Incorporating
/ Nationalist all his life. When branct
of the Repeal Association was formee
) in Sydney In. 1874 Mr.. Byrne. was on'
Of its first me9lbers, and is very proud
!! Of his card Of n,smbership, which, =
sa