PHOTO — West Haven Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, right, claps as Irishman of the Year Richard “Woody” Beirne, assisted by son Patrick Beirne, holding son Brayden, 1, and granddaughter Jillian Rossi, 3, pulls off the shroud revealing the Kelly green street sign designating City Hall’s Campbell Avenue entrance as “Richard Beirne Square” for the next year at the 30th annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on Friday, March 17. The cultural event, in honor of Ireland’s patron saint, is presented by the West Haven St. Patrick’s Day Committee. (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
WEST HAVEN, March 17, 2023 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi presented retired West Shore fire Capt. Richard “Woody” Beirne with a navy blue jacket embroidered with his new distinction, “Irishman of the Year 2023,” as part of festivities marking West Haven’s 30th annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on Friday, March 17.
Beirne, the grandson of Irish immigrants, was presented with other gifts of appreciation, including a mayoral proclamation declaring “Richard Beirne Day” in West Haven, and was showered with laudatory remarks by Rossi for “preserving and enriching the culture of Ireland.”
In addition to Rossi reading the proclamation citing Beirne’s devotion to the Irish American community, the ceremony featured the unveiling of a Kelly green street sign designating City Hall’s Campbell Avenue entrance as “Richard Beirne Square” until next year’s celebration, when the lifelong Westie will pass his title to a fellow person of Irish heritage.
At the start of the 40-minute program, Keith Sweeney, the 2020 recipient who was honored in 2022 after a two-year pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic, received his rectangular sign to take home.
The West Haven St. Patrick’s Day Committee each year recognizes an Irish resident or couple who exemplifies service in the city’s robust Irish community.
“What a great week for the West Haven Irish community and a great week for the city of West Haven — with (Grand Marshal) Joanne Conlan leading the (Greater New Haven) St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Keith Sweeney’s name removed from in front of City Hall,” cracked Beirne, drawing laughter from the crowd, many of whom donned Aran sweaters and other Irish garb on a partly sunny St. Patrick’s Day.
As the sound of Celtic music played by bagpipers and drummers filled the air at the cultural event in honor of Ireland’s patron saint, Beirne, 65, toasted his forebears with about 250 of his closest friends and loved ones, along with a sea of shamrock-clad dignitaries, including former and current fire and police officials, and descendants of folks from the Emerald Isle.
Beirne, one of the hardest working volunteers on the committee and in the Irish community, thanked just about everyone on God’s green earth who has supported him along the way, especially his wife, Suzan Beauchamp Beirne, who has been his rock in sickness and in health.
“She is the mother of our two children and my best friend,” he said. “She stayed with me and helped me get back to good health. I look forward to our next chapter. I love you, Suzan.”
In 1891, Beirne’s paternal grandfather, Patrick Beirne, left the family farm in County Roscommon, Ireland, in pursuit of prosperity in America, settling in New Haven. Four years later, his grandmother, Mary Jane, whose last name coincidentally was also Beirne, came to the Elm City from the Irish parish of Bornacoola, which straddles counties Leitrim and Longford. Each Beirne had followed cousins to New Haven, where the couple met and later wed at St. Mary’s Church in 1901.
Beirne’s paternal grandparents’ journey from celestial green shores to the States was preceded by his maternal great-grandparents.
In 1848, Beirne’s great-grandfather, Thomas Mathews, then age 2, left County Down with his mother and sibling. Seven months earlier, Mathews’ father went ahead to Norwich to find work. In 1865, Beirne’s great-grandmother, Ellen Connell Mathews, departed from Erin and worked as a maid in Norwich before later marrying Mathews in 1877. The couple settled in New Haven in the 1880s.
Beirne, the youngest of three brothers, grew up in a single-family home on Magnolia Avenue in West Shore. He attended public and private schools in West Haven and New Haven and graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1975. He also attended Southern Connecticut State University and the University of New Haven.
His father, J. Vincent Beirne, was a deputy inspector with the New Haven Police Department.
His mother, Dorothy Mathews Beirne, was a teacher for 44 years, including 16 years at Union School in West Haven and stints at St. John the Evangelist and St. Francis schools in New Haven. She worked at the West Haven Community House during summer vacations and was a charter member and an officer of the West Haven Laurel Woman’s Club.
At the midday ceremony, Rossi also presented an Irish flag to Beirne, who was accompanied onstage by his wife. Just steps away, sitting in the second row, daughter Katie Beirne Rossi, son Patrick Beirne, and grandchildren Jillian Rossi, 3, and Brayden Beirne, 1, all of West Haven, looked on with great pride as their father and grandfather was feted.
Woody Beirne was also joined by his brother and sister-in-law, Vincent and Laurie Beirne, of Chantilly, Virginia.
Among those attending the event’s pearl anniversary were Conlan, 2023 Parade Queen Sierra O’Keefe, of Milford, and her honor attendant, Tessa Mackey, of Guilford. Other attendees included North Haven First Selectman Michael J. Freda, a native of West Haven.
The opening procession was led by the West Haven Police Honor Guard and the New Haven County Firefighters Emerald Society Pipes & Drums.
After 2013 Parade Queen Fiona Stewart, of West Hartford, sang beautiful renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the Irish national anthem, “Soldier’s Song,” retired Rev. Mark R. Jette, the 2010 Irishman of the Year, offered an Irish blessing.
The invocation was followed by remarks by committee member and master of ceremonies David Coyle and 2014 Irishwoman of the Year and Rep. Dorinda Keenan Borer, D-West Haven, who presented Beirne with a General Assembly citation on behalf of the city’s delegation.
Charles Butler, an aide to U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, presented the honoree with a certificate of special recognition.
Rossi then delivered remarks praising Beirne, who was flanked by a trio of firetrucks and a line of saluting firefighters and officers from the West Shore, West Haven and Allingtown fire departments, including West Shore Chief Stephen Scafariello, West Haven Deputy Chief William S. Johnson IV and Allingtown Deputy Chief Michael T. Esposito.
“A man of fidelity, integrity and grit, Richard Beirne’s Irish eyes have smiled on the clan of the Emerald Isle as a goodwill ambassador of our close-knit Irish American society,” Rossi said.
The program culminated in a moving performance of “Amazing Grace” by the emerald society’s array of bagpipers and drummers, who dedicated the rendition to Beirne, a longtime member of the society.
Beirne is a long-standing member of the Knights of St. Patrick in New Haven and the Irish American Club in West Haven. He is a former member of the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee.
A longtime member of the St. Patrick’s Day Committee, he has participated in many St. Paddy’s Day celebrations in his hometown by leading dignitaries in the opening procession and presenting the colors as a member of the West Shore Fire Department Emerald Society.
Beirne is perhaps best known for his decorated career as a West Shore firefighter. He served on the department for 29 years, rising through the ranks to captain before retiring in 2008.
During his distinguished tenure, he was a two-term president of West Haven Professional Fire Fighters Local 1198 and served as an officer on the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut for more than 20 years.
He is a founding and charter member and a past president of the West Shore Fire Department Emerald Society. Back in the day, he spent numerous hours getting the society off the ground with his friend Arthur Sheehan, the 2001 Irishman of the Year.
Beirne is a lifetime member of West Haven’s Elks Lodge 1537 and was its Elk of the Year in 2019. He is a past exalted ruler, serving on two occasions, and has served as a trustee for 20 years.
His propensity for public service includes serving on the Parks and Recreation Commission for the past 10 years and supporting nearly every charitable cause and fundraiser in West Haven.
Beirne has paid it forward to his community by serving as a commissioner, an EMT and a trustee of the Ray Tellier Midget Football League and the West Haven Seahawks organization for almost three decades.
He has also volunteered for the West Haven High School football team as a spotter, helping to identify the players for announcer Steve Dargan.
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— MICHAEL P. WALSH, Public Relations Information Coordinator
West Haven Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, right, claps as Irishman of the Year Richard “Woody” Beirne, assisted by son Patrick Beirne, holding son Brayden, 1, and granddaughter Jillian Rossi, 3, pulls off the shroud revealing the Kelly green street sign designating City Hall’s Campbell Avenue entrance as “Richard Beirne Square” for the next year at the 30th annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on Friday, March 17. The cultural event, in honor of Ireland’s patron saint, is presented by the West Haven St. Patrick’s Day Committee. (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
Richard Beirne, a retired West Shore fire captain, receives an embroidered “Irishman of the Year 2023” jacket from Mayor Nancy R. Rossi as his wife, Suzan Beauchamp Beirne, looks on. (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
Firefighters and officers from the West Shore, West Haven and Allingtown fire departments pay homage to Richard Beirne. (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
St. Patrick’s Day Committee member David Coyle, the master of ceremonies, delivers opening remarks. (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
2013 Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Queen Fiona Stewart, of West Hartford, sings a beautiful rendition of the Irish national anthem, “Soldier’s Song.” (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
The West Haven Police Honor Guard presents the American and Irish colors. (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
The sun peeks through as a sea of green pays tribute to Richard Beirne. (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
2023 Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Queen Sierra O’Keefe, of Milford, left, and Honor Attendant Tessa Mackey, of Guilford. (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
Retired Rev. Mark R. Jette, the 2010 Irishman of the Year, offers an Irish blessing. Jette is the former pastor of St. Lawrence and St. Paul churches in West Haven and Sacred Heart Church in Suffield. (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
Keith Sweeney, the 2020 Irishman of the Year who was honored in 2022 after a two-year pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic, receives his retired sign to take home. (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
West Haven Democratic Rep. Dorinda Keenan Borer, the 2014 Irishwoman of the Year, reads and presents Richard Beirne with a General Assembly citation on behalf of the city’s delegation. (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
Charles Butler, an aide to U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, presents a certificate of special recognition to “Captain Richard ‘Woody’ Beirne.” (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
Mayor Nancy R. Rossi reads and presents Richard Beirne with a mayoral proclamation declaring “Richard Beirne Day” in West Haven. (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
Richard Beirne opens his remarks poking fun at old friend Keith Sweeney. (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
Led by drum major Tony Mancini, left, the New Haven County Firefighters Emerald Society Pipes & Drums plays a Celtic rendition of “Amazing Grace.” (City Photo/Matt Piscatelli)
