Frank Beirne was born in Manhattan in 1966 to Frank and Mary Beirne (nee Cody). Frank Sr. was a native of Carrick on Shannon, County Leitrim and Mary hailed from Thomastown , County Kilkenny. He is the oldest of 4 children, followed by Thomas, Martin and Marie. The Beirne family started out in Marble Hill neighborhood of Manhattan and then moved to St. Barnabas parish in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx. Later they moved across the city line to St. Paul’s parish in the Lincoln Park section of Yonkers.
Frank attended St. Barnabas’ and St. Paul’s grammar schools and graduated from Blessed Sacrament H.S. in New Rochelle. He continued his education in New Rochelle, moving crosstown to Iona College. While pursuing his education at Iona he worked full time as a doorman on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Frank graduated from Iona with a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics.
After leaving Iona, Frank was prepared to conquer Wall Street. He soon realized that the life of a business tycoon was not in his future. The FDNY called and Frank answered the call, becoming a firefighter in 1995. He was assigned to Engine 47 on West 113 Street in Manhattan protecting the same neighborhood his father first emigrated to in the 1950’s. He spent 2 years on a rotation assignment through Ladder 52 in Riverdale and Engine 69 in Harlem. While working in Engine 69 he was severely burned in an arson fire that took a year for him to recover from his injuries. He returned to 47 Engine where he continues to serve. He has taken details to work in the Family Assistance Unit of the FDNY and as a fitness instructor at the FDNY Fire Academy. Frank is an avid runner, he runs for the FDNY track team and has completed 6 NYC marathons.
The Beirne family has a long history of active participation in the Irish community. Frank’s dad was active in numerous organizations and over the years served in many positions. Frank Sr. was best known for his service as the Chairman of the N.Y.C. St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The apple does not fall far from the tree. Frank has served as the Manhattan trustee for the FDNY Emerald Society since 2002. He also serves as the Uniformed Firefighter’s Association delegate for Engine 47. Frank is also a member of the County Leitrim Society, the FDNY Holy Name Society, and the Woodlawn Taxpayers Association.
In 1992 Frank made the best decision of his life and married his lovely wife, Helen. She has been a rock of support, love, patience and wisdom in their 18 years of marriage. They set about starting a family, and returned to Frank’s roots, Woodlawn. They have two wonderful sons that Frank and Helen are very proud of, Francis and Robert. Francis is a freshman at the NYC I School in lower Manhattan. Robert is a 7th grader in P.S. 19 in Woodlawn.
Frank thanks the Grand Council of Emerald Societies for the great honor of being the 2011 Aide to the Grand Marshal of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade and would like to thank all the friends and family celebrating this great honor.
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