b'Johns eye was always on the future we are An unassuming man, his interests were many,trying to train people not for industry today including: travel, photography, rugby andwhich some places try to do, but for industry in cricket.He was also known to attend the oddthe future.We try to teach them material that soccer match, supporting both Manchesterwill help them learn for themselves throughout United and Barcelona.However, it was histheir careers. interest in horse racing that was the greatestlove and he was a regular visitor to theProfessor Byrne was fully committed to growing Leopardstown evening race meetings.Computer Science as an academic discipline, His interest in the architecture of ancientaording sta every opportunity to develop cathedrals was also noted by Neville Harris onthemselves in learning, teaching and research. their road trip through Europe in 1970,He was particularly proud of the development of undoubtedly an interest which was influencedIn the decade before his retirement, the research within the ESPRIT programmes in by the achievements of his great-grandfathernumbers taking these part-time evening 1980; and the funding of the OReilly Institute Antony Scott, a highly respected architect. programmes spiralled and had more than which put the department firmly on the mapequalled the large numbers taking the more both internally and externally.Aectionately known as Prof Byrne, everyonetraditional full-time day courses, the who worked with him marvelled at hisdepartment then being the largest in college. Making headlines in 1986 was the painting of extraordinary memory and his attention toUnder a college restructuring plan, the The Weather Forecast Factorywhich was detail in running a huge operation from a smalldepartment combined with the Department of commissioned by Professor Byrne from the well- oice at the east end of the college campus.Statistics to find its new and present home in known Belfast artist, Stephen Conlin. What wasthe School of Computer Science and Statistics. unique about this painting was the insight Professor Byrnes triumphs wont be forgottendemonstrated by John Byrne evidenced by the over generations to come as his fame has been1979 was a significant year for both Professor inclusion of the more important figures from the indelibly marked as the Father of Computing inWright and Professor Byrne when they history of computation and mathematics. Ireland.Such an honour truly fitting for aresponded to the government white paper for scholar, a leader, a visionary and above all a manmore engineers and scientists and introduced a who was devoted to the real spirit and meaningdegree in Computer Science.of university education in its truest sense.011'