Byrne was born in Florida, Montgomery County, New York, and was the son of Richard Henry Byrne, a carpenter, and Margaret Manifold Byrne, a school teacher, both of whom were immigrants from Ireland. His family moved to Albany when he was an infant, and his father operated a bar and grill on Broadway while Byrne attended the city's public schools.
Byrne was born in Florida, Montgomery County, New York, and is the son of Richard Henry Byrne, a carpenter, and Margaret Manifold Byrne, a school teacher, both immigrants from Ireland. His family relocated to Albany when he was an infant, and his father operated a bar and grill on Broadway while Byrne attended city schools.