One of two children of Michael Byrne of Newry, County Down, and Brigid Kelly of Garafine, Ballymacward, County Galway, she trained as a nurse in the city's old Central Hospital and later worked as a staff-nurse at Galway Regional Hospital.
She served as Chairperson of the Galway Branch of the Irish Nurses Organisation as well as being a member of its National Executive for many years.
She created history on 30 June 1975 when she became the first woman to be elected Mayor of the City of Galway.
In commemoration of this, Galway's Quincentennial Bridge, spanning the River Corrib from Terryland to Newcastle, was begun.
During a long career in public life she served on several Boards including Comhairle na n-Ospideal and the City of Galway VEC.