My father, David Byrne, who has died aged 78, was a restaurateur and hotelier who pioneered Bloomsday – the annual celebration of the life of James Joyce – as an epicurean festival. David was a man ahead of his time. In his approach to food, as to so much else in life, he followed the mantra to “keep it simple”. Whether his recipes were for lobster or offal, or a fresh green salad, they were always demonstrations of simple food, perfectly executed.
He was born in Navan, Co Meath, the eldest son of David Byrne, a civil servant, and his wife, Noleen, and after early education at local schools, went to St Finian’s in Mullingar as a boarder. There David developed a great passion for classical music, undertaking roles in school operas.
