Martin Beirne was born in 1872 at his father’s farm in Roscommon Ireland. His parents were Martin Beirne and we believe Bridgett, (formerly Moffat). (Although we do not have any formal documentation detailing Bridget thus far).
Martin Beirne senior was a farmer and had quite a few children. Some of them went across the pond to the United States of America, some stayed in Ireland and some came across to the mainland England seeking work. Mary was the daughter of Mary and Thomas Lodge, they lived at 30 D Block, Dock Cottages Birkenhead in 1889. Thomas an iron worker, was the son of John and Harriet Lodge who lived in London.
Martin moved to Manchester in the early 1900’s as an ironworker (journeyman). (A Journeyman is a worker who has served his apprenticeship but has to travel to find work.) Martin and Mary were married at St Vincent’s Church Openshaw Manchester on the 05th November 1910 and went on to have 10 children. They lived at 33 Ryder street, Bradford Manchester. On the 09th February 1911 their first born was a son, Patrick Francis Beirne, my grandad.
Patrick went to St Vincent’s school in Manchester and grew up around the Beswick and Bradford area in Manchester. In 1926 at the tender age of fifteen, Patrick Beirne started his new job as a trolley boy at Princess Road Depot in Manchester.For four years Patrick was a trolley boy until the age of nineteen when he was promoted to the position of Guard. He was proud to be a part of the team opening the first bus route from Flixton to Trafford Park in the early 1930’s. In 1932 Patrick was guarding the Urmston bus when it broke down, it was then he met Jessie Brotherton Travis who would be his life time partner. Jessie was a descendant of Joseph Brotherton the first MP for Salford.
Patrick married Jessie on the 22nd April 1935.On the 25th June 1936, Patrick was guarding his bus as usual, only this was no ordinary morning... He was on a split shift and knew when he left for work that morning that Jessie had gone into labour expecting their first child. The passengers all knew “Pat” and had been asking how his wife was doing. Living just off the route in Stretford, the driver took a slight diversion and pulled up outside Patrick’s house. Pat ran upstairs leaving the passengers and driver in suspense. He reappeared moments later declaring that his Son Michael Patrick Beirne had just been born. My dad.