Fergus Byrne

First name:
Fergus
Second name:
Byrne
Date of birth:
January 1950
Place of birth:

Broxburn

Home address(es):

Canada

Occupation type(s):

Shale miner

Newspaper owner

Newspaper References

BROXBURN MAN DIES IN CANADA

Became Newspaper Owner

A former shale miner who emigrated from Broxburn to Canada in 1903, became a newspaperman and ultimately owned his own paper, "The New Waterford Times." died at Ottawa in January. He was Mr Fergus Byrne, aged 78, a native of Broxburn. Two years ago he was in Broxburn on holiday.

News of Mr Byrne's death has been sent home by Mr Robert McLean in the form of a newspaper interview given to a Canadian paper by the latter and sent to his sister, Mrs Gibson, Old Mill Road, Broxburn.

In this, Mr McLean has stated that Mr Byrne and he were natives of the same Scottish mining community, Broxburn. As a young man Mr Byrne had played professional football for Newcastle United.

They came to Canada about the same time in 1903. In the Old Country Mr Byrne worked as a shale miner, and on his arrival at Cape Breton had secured work at the Winning Pit at Sydney Mines. Then followed jobs in various mines, including those of fireman, safety first inspector and check-weighman. During his lifetime Mr Byrne engaged in the newspaper business. He was local representative of the "Sydney Post" and "Sydney Record" and for a number of years managed his own newspaper, "The New Waterford Times."

Mr McLean said that through the years he had maintained a close association with Mr Byrne. He attended the funeral accompanied by his son and daughter-in-law, Mr and Mrs Ken McLean; another son, Mr Fergus McLean, and his daughter, Mrs John W. Campbell.

Mr Byrne, who had been in indifferent health, had gone to reside with his daughter, Mrs Stephen (Rosemary) Holden, at Ottawa, where he died, but his remains were brought back to New Waterford for interment. Mass of Requiem was celebrated at Mount Carmel Cemetery. He is survived by his daughter, Mrs Holden, and one brother, Michael Byrne, living at Boston.

Mrs Byrne, who predeceased her husband, was a Miss Komisky, also from Broxburn, who was a school teacher, and before leaving for Canada to marry her husband taught in Broxburn R.C. school.

Mr Byrne leaves many relatives and friends in the Broxburn District.

West Lothian Courier, 10 February 1950