Born in Dublin, Ireland, Tom trained as a professional actor in London England's Royal Academy before heading to Canada with his wife and three small children is 1956.
Tom is an icon in the Far North. Since 1979, he's been in Dawson City every summer reciting Robert Service's poetry, such as "The Cremation of Sam McGee" and telling the history of Service to future generations of fans.
Like Robert Service, Tom is known as 'The Bard of The North'. He came to the North when he was hired by the Government of the North West Territories in the early 70's. He started a theatre company called "The Arctic Circle Theatre." Dawson City heard about his plays and invited him to put a play into their International Drama Festival. The Arctic Circle Theatre won everything in sight. The next year Dawson City wanted him to put in a play again. Tom wrote it himself. Since Dawson City was where Robert Service wrote many of his poems, Tom decided to give them a little bit of Robert Service. The Director in charge of The Klondike Visitor's Association enjoyed it so much he asked if Tom would consider doing a bit of reading of Robert Service at Service's original cabin. He decided to do more than that and created a full performance called 'The Robert Service Show'.
Patrick Reid the ambassador of Expo 86 called Tom Byrne a national hero. He was recognized by the Klondike Tourist association for his many years of ‘Service’ to the Yukon and Robert Service’s wife wrote and thanked him for regenerating interest and keeping his works alive., such as Shooting of Dan McGrew and Spell of the Yukon.
Tom is an icon in the Far North. Since 1979, he's been in Dawson City every summer reciting Robert Service's poetry, such as "The Cremation of Sam McGee" and telling the history of Service to future generations of fans.
Like Robert Service, Tom is known as 'The Bard of The North'. He came to the North when he was hired by the Government of the North West Territories in the early 70's. He started a theatre company called "The Arctic Circle Theatre." Dawson City heard about his plays and invited him to put a play into their International Drama Festival. The Arctic Circle Theatre won everything in sight. The next year Dawson City wanted him to put in a play again. Tom wrote it himself. Since Dawson City was where Robert Service wrote many of his poems, Tom decided to give them a little bit of Robert Service. The Director in charge of The Klondike Visitor's Association enjoyed it so much he asked if Tom would consider doing a bit of reading of Robert Service at Service's original cabin. He decided to do more than that and created a full performance called 'The Robert Service Show'.
Patrick Reid the ambassador of Expo 86 called Tom Byrne a national hero. He was recognized by the Klondike Tourist association for his many years of ‘Service’ to the Yukon and Robert Service’s wife wrote and thanked him for regenerating interest and keeping his works alive., such as Shooting of Dan McGrew and Spell of the Yukon.
Tom still travels to the Yukon each summer to to do his show which he now performs it at the Westmark Hotel.
In the winter he resides in the warmer climes of his home in Vancouver, British Columbia.
In the winter he resides in the warmer climes of his home in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Copyright 2010 Tales of the Far North: Cremation of Sam McGee. All Rights Reserved.
