Tony remembered for his coaching and dedication to aspiring athletes

TONY Byrne is remembered for his enduring impact on the hundreds of young people he coached in Tallaght Athletic Club over several decades.

The father-of-four died on Wednesday, May 22, aged 86, but his legacy will carry on through the many young people he coached.

Tony grew up in Rialto, where he played for Rialto Boys’ Football Club as a child, and in 1978 he moved to Kilnamanagh with his wife, Brigid, where they raised their young family.

Their daughter, Carol, had an interest in sprinting which led to Tony’s involvement in the athletics world.

Tony’s youngest daughter, Joanna, told The Echo: “His involvement in athletics was accidental.

“My sister was running in a 400m for under 10s, but she ran too fast and collapsed before the finish line.

“A coach who was watching said she was amazing and asked if he could coach her, and asked Tony if he’d consider coaching because they needed more coaches too.”

This club was the Dublin Striders, who were based in Crumlin, and it set in motion Tony’s continued dedication to the development of young

athletes.

He later helped to found Tallaght AC, which was formed after Cuchulainn AC amalgamated with another club in Tallaght, called Oisín AC.

“He just wanted to help the community, and there were so many young people when we moved to Kilnamanagh,” recalled Joanna.

“He just loved seeing the kids progress, and for them to have a positive influence in their life.

“We could never have been prouder of him – we knew that coaching made him the person that he was and how much he brought to it.”

One of Tony’s most apparent character traits was that he never sought praise and enjoyed quietly working away to help the community, without expecting anything in return.

“When he won Tallaght Person of the Year in 1993, he nearly died when they called out his name!” said Joanna.

“He was so embarrassed. It was just second-nature to him to help people, he never looked for praise.”

Tony’s enjoyment came from seeing the success of the athletes he coached, and he always made sure his coaching would develop them to the best of their ability.

“His mentality was that you had to develop the person, and he knew that how they developed would lead into their lifestyle and their sport,” explained Joanna.

“He was selfless. The only thing he ever wanted was time with people and a connection, he never cared for anything material – we could do with a lot more Tonys.”

While Tony struggled with ill health in his last few months, he continued to be a familiar sight at Tallaght AC’s racetrack and in fact was there the night before he died.

“He had been to track the night before he died,” said Joanne. “He was in good form.”

In an interview with The Echo in November 2022, Tony explained what he found most fulfilling as a coach.

“When the kids win medals and they improve . . . it’s always satisfying to see athletes stepping up,” he said.

“I have athletes I’ve trained who are now coaches, and that’s a source of satisfaction for me, because it feels like they’re carrying on a tradition.

“I see the way the kids turn out, and some of them are very good – we’ve had some terrific kids.”

John (Tony) Byrne, beloved husband and best friend of the late Brigid and loving and devoted dad to Carol, Paul, John and Joanna, died suddenly but peacefully at home on May 22.

His funeral Mass was held in St Kevin’s Church, Kilnamanagh, last Monday, May 29, followed by cremation in Newlands Cross Crematorium.