“On one night during the 1990s second-year arts student Gisèle Scanlon was making her way on to University College Dublin’s Belfield campus. ‘You wouldn’t expect the dog to be out’, she recalls of the rough weather …” (more)
[Conor Capplis, Independent, 21 February]
“UCD Foundation announced the formation of a UCD Michael Byrne Community Fund and installation of a memorial bench in the Rose Garden at Belfield House to remember Michael Byrne, Old Man Belfield. Known affectionately as ‘Old Man Belfield’ to staff and students, Michael Byrne was a homeless man who chose to live on UCD’s Belfield Campus. Byrne died on campus on Monday 11th of January …” (more)
[Hugh Dooley, College Tribune, 16 February]
“A man has said he may be the son of the late Michael Byrne, who was affectionately known as Old Man Belfield. The man walked into Donnybrook garda station days after news broke of Mr Byrne’s death at University College Dublin …” (more)
[Niamh Horan, Independent, 7 February]
“An ever-present fixture on UCD’s campus for years, Michael Byrne (affectionately known by students and staff as ‘Old Man Belfield’) passed away on January 11, 2021. Beloved by students and staff alike, Michael Byrne’s absence will be felt dearly by those who saw him around campus during their time in university. In the wake of his passing, many within the university voiced their respects and adoration for Michael, with students, alumni and staff gathering virtually to attend his funeral service via UCD’s Youtube channel on January 20, 2021 …” (more)
[College Tribune, 26 January]
“Two people have come forward with possible information on the identity of the late Michael Byrne, who was known as Old Man Belfield. The first, Dubliner Colm O’Brien, contacted Donnybrook garda station to say a close friend named Michael Byrne went missing in the late 1970s …” (more)
[Niamh Horan, Independent, 24 January]
“Michael Byrne, the homeless man affectionately known as ‘Old Man Belfield’, did not believe he was homeless because ‘UCD was his home’, his funeral Mass was told. The 71-year-old, who spent more than 40 years roaming the south Dublin campus and died while sleeping rough there on January 11th, was remembered by UCD chaplain Fr Eamonn Bourke at as ‘an important member of our community’ …” (more)
[Simon Carswell, Irish Times, 20 January]
“The funeral of Michael Byrne, ‘Old Man Belfield’, will take place on Wednesday 20th of January at 11am. The service will be private as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown but a live stream will be hosted by UCD online …” (more)
[Hugh Dooley, College Tribune, 17 January]
“Tributes have been paid to an elderly homeless man known as ‘Old Man Belfield’ whose body was found at the UCD campus in Belfield yesterday. UCD Dublin issued a statement on Twitter this evening paying tribute to Michael Byrne, known affectionately by students and staff as ‘Old Man Belfield’ …” (more)
[Allison Bray, Independent, 12 January]
