Port Augusta Diocese. Farewell to Father O'Mahony, Southern Cross, Adelaide, 24 February 1905, p 10, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166962375:

A valedictory social was tendered to Rev. Father O'Mahony in the Hawker Institute on Thursday evening, 16th inst., by his friends in Cradock, Hookina, and Hawker.

The chairman (Dr. P. F. Shanahan) referred to the general regret they felt at the removal of Rev. Father O'Mahony from the Port Augusta parish, where he had labored strenuously for eight years, and endeared himself to all classes. The large and representative assemblage present that evening was an outward sign that expressed more than words could convey how we esteemed our guest, and yet the district being so large, the short notice of his removal prevented many who so desired from being present. He had great pleasure in presenting to their revered parish priest, as an evidence of their esteem, a suitably-inscribed silver dressing-case, and a token from the children.

The Rev. Father Kirby, in supporting the chairman's remarks, mentioned that it was a pleasure to work in conjunction with such a noble and ideal priest, and the mere fact that our worthy Bishop (Right Rev. Dr. Maher) had deemed it desirable to promote the Rev. Father O'Mahony to the most populous parish in the diocese, was sufficient testimony that the painstaking services and unselfish labors of their parish priest had been recognised by the highest authority, as well as the congregations to whom the Rev. Father had ministered. To ourselves who were losing him, this was our only solace, and he could congratulate Port Pirie on the choice that had been made.

Mr. Hooper, on behalf of the Gordon people, Mr. McAulay representing Cradock, and Mr. Madigan, a delegate from Hookina, also referred in heartfelt terms to the widespread regret felt at Father O'Mahony's departure.

Father O'Mahony having suitably responded, a programme of dancing and music was gone through, supper being provided by the ladies. About 150 were present, and the ladies are to be congratulated on the manner in which the social arrangements were conducted.

The Rev. Father Kirby is announced as Father O'Mahony's successor; he has been but a short time in the district, but has made a host of friends. He will have the Rev. Father Lecky as assistant.

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Presentation to Father Kirby at Carrieton., The Southern Cross, Adelaide, 26 May 1916, p 13, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166420716:

On Sunday last the Catholics of Carrieton and the surrounding districts met in Carrieton to bid farewell to Father Kirby and to make him a presentation on his departure from our midst, through ill-health (writes our Carrieton correspondent). Father Kirby has spent six years in this district, and has most zealously and arduously carried out his duties for the spiritual welfare of his people until compelled through ill-health to relinquish his post, which he held under very trying conditions for the past six months. His health was in a very precarious condition, which culminated in a very serious illness, necessitating his removal to hospital and a change of climate. The presentation was made on behalf of the Catholics of Carrieton, Eurelia, Hammond, and Bendleby, who combined their subscriptions (viz., £26 10/) for Father Kirby to get a chalice as a little souvenir of his stay in the district, from which the people regret his departure. The Rev. Father Kirby, who was on a week's leave of absence from North Adelaide Hospital, briefly but feelingly expressed his thanks to his people for their kindness to him during his stay in the district, and for their generosity in making this presentation. He was very sensible of this mark of their goodwill.

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Diocese of Port Augusta. Death of the Rev. Father. Richard Kirby, The Southern Cross, Adelaide, 9 June 1916, p 13, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166420965:

General regret was felt among Catholics when it was announced that the Rev. Father Richard Kirby, of Carrieton, had died in the North Adelaide Private Hospital on Thursday evening of last week. It is only a couple of weeks since our Carrieton correspondent wrote stating that Father Kirby's health was in a precarious condition, which had culminated in a serious illness, necessitating his removal to hospital and a change of climate. He was made a presentation by the Catholics of the district, and it was understood that he intended making a voyage to Ireland when his health was sufficiently restored. Father Kirby had been some 10 or 12 years in the Port Augusta diocese, and had charge of Carrieton district for the last six years.

A Requiem Mass and Office for the deceased priest was held at St Francis Xavier's Cathedral on Saturday morning. His Grace the Archbishop presided, and there were also present in the sanctuary the Right Revs. Monsignor O'Neill, V.G., and Nevin, Very Rev. Fathers Hurley and Hourigan, Fathers Hanrahan, Delahunty, Gatzemeyer, O'Sullivan, and O'Connell, Very Rev. Father Lee, and Father McFarlane, M.S.H., Rev. Fathers Candler, O.P., Ronayne, O.C.C., Very Rev. Father Connell, and Fathers Carroll and O'Dowling, S.J., and Rev. Father Gerard, C.P. The cantors were Very Rev. Precentor Hurley and Father Gerard, C.P. After the Office for the Dead had been chanted Mass for the Dead was celebrated by the Rev. Father O'Sullivan, and his Grace the Archbishop gave the Absolutions over the coffin. Rev. Father Gatzemeyer was master of ceremonies. The remains were afterwards interred at West terrace Cemetery.

Our Hammond correspondent writes:—Again has death robbed us of one of our most worthy priests in the person of the late Rev. Father R. Kirby. He had been failing in health this last three or four years, but in Passion Week it was found necessary to remove him to North Adelaide Private Hospital, where he rallied sufficiently to cherish the hope that he would be able to realise his greatest ambition, viz., to visit his aged mother and friends and the scenes of his youth in Ireland once again ere he died. His death has cast a shadow over Catholic and non-Catholic alike whose privilege it was to have known him. His love and zeal for his duty knew no bounds. It is only a few months ago when he rose from a sick bed to attend a sick call which necessitated a drive of over 20 miles over rough unknown roads on a dark night. He paid a farewell visit here three weeks ago, but was too frail to be farewelled by his parishioners in the manner they would wish to show their appreciation of his conscientious and untiring labours in their services. He was a man of great learning, and had a very valuable library, of which he made full use, as was evidenced from his lectures and conversations. He was just about in the prime of life, 46 years of age.

In reference to the death of the Rev. Father Kirby, the Bishop of Port Augusta, the Right Rev. Dr. Norton, writes as follows:—Some little explanation perhaps is needed in reference to the circumstances under which the last obsequies of this deceased priest were carried out without the assistance of the Bishop or any of the priests of the diocese. There is no doubt some of the priests and myself would have been present had it been at all possible. The notification of the death did not reach me till the afternoon of Friday, as I was called out on a distant sick call early that morning. My assistant priest, Rev. Father Ryan, was also away in another distant part of the parish celebrating Mass and attending to the sick. The Sunday's work was awaiting us all, and no train was available to bring us back for the Sunday's Masses. Hence we were compelled to rely upon the kindly and charitable offices of the priests of Adelaide to perform the last loving attentions to the devoted deceased priest. I am deeply grateful to his Grace the Archbishop and the priests who celebrated the solemn office and Requiem Mass for Father Kirby's soul. I was quite sure they would do what we could not do in the distressing circumstances. I am sincerely grateful to them all. I wish to thank the good nuns of the hospital for their kind services, the priests, and Dr. Gunson, who attended the dying priest, and all who assisted at the funeral.

The late Father Kirby had permission from me to go on a long holiday as far back as last November. He did go away for a short time, but returned again unexpectedly; and it seems he was never well enough to undertake the holiday granted him. He was always devoted to his priestly duties, and performed them faithfully and well. May God rest his soul.

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The late Father Kirby, The Southern Cross, Adelaide, 16 June 1916, p 13, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166421036:

The Late Father Kirby. Our Carrieton correspondent writes:—"This district has sustained a bitter loss through death claiming our hard-working and beloved priest, the late Rev. Father R. Kirby. Although we all knew how ill and completely broken down in health he was from the arduous duties performed by him in the number of years which he had been among us, none thought the end was so near and so sudden. He was a short time ill in the North Adelaide Private Hospital, and when he regained strength enough to come back to his people to say farewell, how little we thought it was goodbye for ever. He was made a presentation by the Catholics of the district, and it was his fondest hope and desire that he would be soon strong enough to take a trip home to Ireland to see his aged mother and the land of his birth once more. But his wishes were denied him, for about a week after his return to Adelaide this district was shocked when the news of his death was made known. His death caused much regret among all who knew him, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, as he had many friends who did not embrace the Catholic faith. A hatred of bigotry was one of his characteristics. He was zealous for his priestly duties, and no distance was too great when a sick call summoned him. He owned an extensive library, and was a man of great learning, and spent a great part of his time among his books. Masses have been, and are being, said for the repose of his soul. May God grant him eternal rest.

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Fr Frank Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants: Recalling the Spirit of the Deceased Priests of the Diocese of Port Augusta and Port Pirie 1888-2008, 2008:
Kirby, Richard

Ordained: 1902 in Ireland.
Arrived from West Indies in 1903. Worked in Georgetown 1903; Jamestown 1903; Port Augusta 1903-09; Carrieton 1911-16.
Died: 1/6/1916. Buried West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.
Both the Wilmington and Carrieton Committee which organised the annual Fund Raising Event refused to hand the money over to him. The Bishop had to be called in to solve the problem.
Prolific letter writer. Had a very large library of quality books. Left 1,200 books to his mother in Ireland. She donated them to the Diocese (see Peterborough Presbytery Library). She said all she wanted was his Breviary because she knew that was something he had used every day.

(Reproduced with the approval of Sister Mary Cresp RSM)