Liverpool Line Australian Packets, The Argus, Melbourne, 6 February 1856, p 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4830001:

The following complimentary address was presented to Captain Moppett, of ship Phoenix, on his arrival, after calling at Melbourne to land passengers:— Ship Phoenix, Sydney, January, 1856. Sir,-We congratulate you most heartily on the termination of a pleasant and prosperous voyage. After our acknowledgments to the good providence of God, we hasten to assure you of the general conviction that prevails amongst us, that to your care and thorough seamanship we owe the rapidity and safety of our journey. Not one of us remembers to have ever sailed with a captain whose time and care have been more assiduously devoted to the important duties of navigation. Night and day at your post, you have inspired us with that confidence in your management and watchfulness, which is so essential to the happiness of passengers at sea. We have much pleasure in acknowledging the polite readi- ness of yourself and officers in attending to the wants and comforts of every one; in this respect, and in the general good order and discipline of the ship, there was nothing more that we could have desired. We bid you very gratefully good-bye, and feel we can wish you no greater success in your profession than that in every future voyage your passengers may part from you with as great a sense as we have ourselves of the kindly disposition and watchfulness of their captain.
To Captain William Moppett,
Ship Phoenix.
J.B. Polding, Archbishop of Sydney
H.G. Gregory, Abbot O.S.B., Vicar-General
Jerome Keating, C.C.
M.A. Cornish, O.S.B.
John McGirr, C.C.
Patrick Newman, C.C.
J.H.B. Curtis, O.S.B. [...]

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Result of the Mid-Winter Examination of the Students of St. Mary's College, Lyndhurst, 1856, Empire, Sydney, 27 June 1856, p 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60249830:

[...] Notice.—The Vacation will terminate on Monday, July 7th, on which day studies will be resumed. Rev. J. McGirr, President.

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Officiating Minister, Sydney Morning Herald, 26 November 1856, p 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12989408:

In conformity with the provisions of the Acts for the Celebration of Marriages in the colony of New South Wales, and for the Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, the name of the undermentioned officiating minister has been registered at the Registrar-General's Office:—Roman Catholic Church: John McGirr, Petersham.

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Destructive Fire at Ashfield, Empire, Sydney, 30 June 1857, p 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64984507:

At a Meeting held at the Hibernian Inn, Ashfield, on Monday, the 20th of June, 1857, for the purpose of forming a committee to receive subscriptions in behalf of Mr. Michael Boylson and family, the great sufferers by the late distressing calamity. The Rev. J. McGirr in the chair; [...] resolved "That a subscription list be immediately opened, and that the following gentlemen form a committee for furthering the objects of this meeting, [...] the Rev. J. McGirr, Ashfield ; [...] J. McGirr, Chairman.

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Victoria, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 7 November 1857, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115560124:

The Rev. Mr. McGirr, formerly of Lyndhurst College, is now attached to St. Francis', Melbourne.

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Indian Relief Fund at Creswick, The Star, Ballarat, 17 February 1858, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66046598:

On Thursday afternoon, according to announcement, a meeting was held at the Government offices, Albert street; it was not numerously attended, but those who did so carried out the object for which it was convened in a practical manner, and the result of which will be a very fair contribution from this district.

[...]

D. Edmondston proposed the next resolution, viz.:—"That the following gentlemen be appointed a committee to carry out the foregoing resolution, with power to add to their numbers [...] Rev. J. McGirr [...]

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Indian Relief Fund, The Argus, Melbourne, 5 April 1858, p 7, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7292239:

[...] Collected by Mr. Jeremiah Coffey, Creswick—Rev. J. McGirr, 1 l. [...]

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The Rush at Back Creek, Mount Alexander Mail, 8 April 1859, p 6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199052592:

[...] I do not know whether any effort has been made by other denominations to provide for the religious accommodation of their respective adherents, but I copied the following notice as a curiosity:—

"Catholic Church.
Rev. John McGirr will celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Sunday, April 3, in Mr. Saul's Long Room, Daisy Hill Hotel; after which a sermon will be preached. Baptism performed the same day at 2 p.m. On Saturday, April 2nd Rev. Mr Girr will have confessions at Mr O'Connor's Hotel, and prepare the people for their Pascal duties. It is hoped there will be a good attendance on the occasion."

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Omeo Weekly Summary, Gippsland Guardian, 14 October 1859, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109903080:

We are just now favored by the presence among us of the Rev. John McGirr, the Roman Catholic Minister, lately come to reside in North Gipps Land. He celebrated Divine Service yesterday before a numerous congregation, including many persons who, though not belonging to the Roman Catholic Church, availed themselves of this (to them rare) opportunity of attending public worship. I have reason to believe that the reverend gentleman is very favorably impressed by the good order prevailing on these diggings; and when he leaves us, will, I doubt not, carry with him some substantial proofs that his visit was not unappreciated.

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Tenders, Gippsland Guardian, 11 November 1859, p 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109903144:

For making and burning 40,000 bricks, on the Catholic Church reserve, Sale; and 20,000 on the Catholic Church reserve at Stratford.
Tenders to be addressed to Rev. John McGirr, Post Office, Sale, before the 20th inst.
The lowest or any tender will not necessarily be taken.
John McGirr

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Shipping Intelligence. Sailed, Gippsland Guardian, 20 July 1860, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109903724:

July 17—Storm Bird, s.s. 75 tons, J.B. Sydserff, for Melbourne. Passengers: Cabin—Rev. McGirr [...]

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Local Intelligence, Gippsland Guardian, 30 November 1860, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109903997:

We are glad to perceive that the Rev. Mr. McGirr has got the plans and specifications for the erection of a Catholic Chapel, at Sale, and which will be proceeded with immediately. We received an advertisement for publication last week stating these plans were to be open for inspection at Sale, and tenders received, but unfortunately too late for publication.

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Gippsland Guardian, 11 October 1861, p 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109904916:

Tenders for the enlargement and decoration of the Catholic Church, at Tarraville, will be received by the Rev. John McGirr until Wednesday, 17th October, 1861. Plans and specifications to be seen at the Presbytery.

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Correspondence, Gippsland Times, 16 May 1862, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65361584:

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our correspondents.
To The Editor of the Gippsland Times.
Sir,—In your issue of the 9th inst. you found it convenient to use my name. I would treat your remarks on that occasion, as I have hitherto done, and as I intend to do in future, with the most supreme contempt, did not truth compel me, for the sake of public peace and charity to contradict your series of gross falsehoods.

In the first place your "Catholic Correspondent" is not a member of the Roman Catholic Church, but some person wantonly assuming the title.

In the second instance you are wrong in saying that I stated that the teacher of the National School was placed there to proselyte. He is forbidden to do so under pain of dismissal from the charge of the school, and yet he has on many occasions done so by compelling Roman Catholic children to be present at religious instruction given by members of other denominations, which I can prove from the statements of the children as well as that of the Inspector of National Schools. I warned the teacher privately the instant the Inspector brought the case under my notice. Finding that my admonition had no effect I found it necessary to admonish my congregation on the subject.

In the third instance you are wrong in stating that I warned my congregation against supporting Protestants in any way. When I was collecting for the erection of the Roman Catholic Church at Sale, for which I received the most liberal and generous support from members of all denominations, I was glad to learn that the Catholics contributed to the extent of their means towards the erection of the Protestant and Presbyterian Churches.

Again, before you assert so positively that a Protestant clergyman subscribed to my Church or to my stipend you should inquire after the truth of the statement, and you would find that you should reverse the proposition. Catholics and Protestants lived in peace and charity together in Gippsland long before your time, and will, I trust, continue to do so long after you have gone to your account, notwithstanding your efforts to the contrary.
I am, &c.,
John McGirr.
Tarraville, May 12.

[The above letter refers to some offence of which we are quite unaware, we are totally ignorant of having given the Rev. Mr. McGirr any cause for his ascerbity of temper. If we have done so, we regret it, but our columns are open to all correspondents, and we cannot help admitting communications which may necessarily pain those who have outstepped the bounds of prudence in the performance of their duties. As to charging us with creating religious differences, the accusation is so falsely absurd that it is not worth contradiction. The rev. gentleman's assertion that there was no religious dissention before we came here is quite true, as when we first saw Gippsland neither Protestant or Catholic clergymen were resident here, and consequently none to disturb the harmony which existed amongst the small community which were then resident in Gippsland. Of the first introduction of clergymen and their characters, the least said the soonest mended, and as to Mr. McGirr's contempt we do not trouble ourselves in the least about it. Contempt or praise is alike valueless to journalists.

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Gippsland Times, 31 July 1863, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65362671:

It is not often we have had the pleasing task of giving publicity to the gratitude of miners, in this district, to a clergyman. The following letter, however, to the Rev. J. McGirr, from the Crooked River miners, will do much to relieve this district from the imputation that they are careless of the services of their pastor; and we are fully aware that no teacher of the Gospel has entered more zealously into the protection of the spiritual wants of his denomination than the Rev. J. McGirr, and that he is not only fully entitled to receive a present from the depopulated diggings at Crooked River, but also a more substantial testimonial from the populous and rich districts of the Jordan and Donnelly's Creek:—

"Crooked River, 23rd July, 1863.
"Reverend Sir.—We, the undersigned miners of the Crooked River, bearing in mind the zeal and kind consideration for our spiritual wants which prompted you to undertake so long and toilsome a journey into the mountains to see us, beg now to return you our most sincere thanks. We beg also your acceptance of a small testimonial of our esteem and good wishes. We send you four ounces of gold, to be made into a snuff-box, with the following inscription :—'Presented to the Rev. J. McGirr by the Crooked River miners.'
"We have the honor to be,
"Your most obedient servants, [list of signatories follows]

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Gippsland Guardian, 27 November 1863, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109907203:

We regret to hear of the decease of the only son of Mr. Simon Gillies, of North Gipps Land. He died on the 19th instant from debility, the last rites of his Church having been administered by the Rev J McGirr.[...]

The snuff-box presented to the Rev J. McGirr by the Crooked River miners has been received by that gentleman. It is of great weight and perfectly plain, bearing only the following inscription, within a light scroll border:—'Presented to the Rev J McGirr by the Crooked River miners." ---

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Gippsland Guardian, 4 December 1863, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109907221:

The Rev Father Mealy, a young gentleman lately arrived in the colony, and, we understand, very recently from college, has arrived in this district, and will in future assist the Rev. Mr. McGirr, in his duties.

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Important Sale of Household Furniture..., Gippsland Guardian, 19 February 1864, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109907467:

...and other effects at the residence of the Rev. Mr. McGirr, Tarraville Bridge, Tarraville, on Wednesday next, the 24th February, 1864, sale to commence at 12 o'clock, noon.

Mr. Thomas Burrows has received instructions from the Rev. Mr. McGirr, who is about to leave the district, to sell as above the whole of his choice and well assorted Household Furniture, comprising:—
Bedsteads, beds, and bedding, chests of drawers, dressing tables, wash stands, chairs, dining tables, sofas, mahogany chairs, carpets, glasses, mirror, window furniture, &c., &c. Kitchen contains every article necessary for the comfort of an ordinary establishment, and will be sold in lots to suit purchasers.
The whole will be on view two hours prior to the time of sale.

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Local, Gippsland Guardian, 26 February 1864, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109907507:

We regret to learn that the Rev. Mr. McGirr is shortly about to leave this district after a residence of five years amongst us. The removal of such a gentleman from his charge gives rise to a more than passing notice of the change. Mr. McGirr will leave his mark in Gipps Land, not only in the useful edifices which have been erected by his zealous efforts in the cause of his church, but also in the many concessions made by Government for the advancement of this district. He took an active part in obtaining grants for opening up our gold fields, in extending postal communication, in establishing a gold escort, and whatovcr else conduced to the best interest of our small community.

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Local, Gippsland Guardian, 8 April 1864, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109907633:

The Rev John McGirr, who is about to leave Gipps Land, was entertained at a dinner, at the Club Hotel, Sale, on Saturday last. Between twenty and thirty of the leading residents of North Gipps Land were present, including Messrs W Pearson, J.P., Gardiner, J.P, Arbuckle, J.P, A R McKenzie, of the Bank of Victoria, Farran, of the National Bank, and others. Mr W T Dawson, District Surveyor, presided, and was faced by Mr W Patten, Solicitor. The Chairman proposed the toast of the evening and presented the guest with a purse containing 120 sovereigns. The Chairman spoke of the reverend guest in terms of great eulogy, which was cordially endorsed by the gentlemen present, who drank the toast with great warmth of feeling.

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Shipping. Sailed, Gippsland Guardian, 22 April 1864, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109907673:

April 15—Royal Shepherd, s.s. 183 tons, N McEachern, for Melbourne. Passengers—Cabin: [...] Messrs. [...] and McGirr.

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Shipping. Arrived (Port Albert), Gippsland Guardian, 2 September 1864, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109908042:

September 1—Royal Shepherd, s.s. 245 tons, N. McEacharn, from Melbourne. Passengers: cabin— [...] Rev. J McGirr [...]

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Shipping Intelligence. Hobson's Bay. Arrived. Oct. 25, The Argus, Melbourne, 26 October 1864, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5744941:

Ant, s.s., S. Patrick, from Port Albert 24th inst. Passengers—cabin: [...] and Rev. - McGirr;

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Catholic Affairs in Otago, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 14 December 1864, p 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128805341:

The Rev. Father Moreau lately received a bell from the foundry of O'Mera and Sons, London, it weighs over 15 cwt., and, is the best toned bell and the largest at present in New Zealand. The ceremony of blessing it took place last Monday week by his Lordship Dr. Viard, assisted by Father Martin, deacon, and Father Duhig, sub-deacon. The Vicar-General, Fathers Moreau and McGirr, and I should think over three hundred persons were present to witness the ceremony—among whom were many Protestants. The bell was erected in a garden near the Priest's house, there being no belfry in the church as yet, and after the usual ceremonies were gone through the Very Rev. J.J.P. O'Reilly, V. G. ascended the platform, and delivered a discourse, explanatory of the ceremony they had just witnessed.

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Shipping. Port Chalmers, Otago Daily Times, NZ, 30 December 1864, p 4, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT18641230.2.5:

Departures.
Otago, s.s., Smith, for Sydney via Nelson.
Passenger List.
Per Otago, for the North: Rev. J. McGirr [...]

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Shipping Intelligence. Hobson's Bay. Arrived.—July 8, The Argus, Melbourne, 10 July 1865, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5789189:

Ant, s.s., S. Patrick, from Port Albert 7th inst. Passengers—saloon: [...] Messrs. [...] and the Rev. Mr. McGirr [...]

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New Zealand, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 4 November 1865, p 698, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115452003:

(From our own Correspondent.)
Wellington, October 9th, 1865.
On the 27th ultimo, a requiem High Mass was celebrated by his Lordship, the Right Rev. Dr. Viard, Bishop of Wellington, assisted by the Very Rev. J. J. P. O'Reilly, V.G., and the Rev. Fathers Jean Petit, Seon, McGirr, Royer, and O'Brien, in his Cathedral Church, for the repose of the soul of the Rev. Michael Driscoll, who was a passenger by the ill-fated steamer, City of Dunedin, which was lost going from here to the Hokitiki Gold-fields. The Rev. Father Driscoll arrived in New Zealand from Melbourne last April, in which latter place he zealously laboured as a missioner of Christ for upwards of three years. I hope the Bishop of that diocese and his clergy did not forget offering up their prayers for the repose of the soul of that worthy servant of the Lord who laboured so long among them. During his short stay in Wellington he gained the esteem of all who knew him, or heard his eloquent discourses from the Pulpit, and more especially of our venerated Bishop and priests who indeed appreciated his virtues. He was appointed to the Hokitiki mission to plant the Holy Catholic Faith in that quarter where its true light had not as yet penetrated and to establish among the scattered and exiled sons of Erin (who are pouring in thousands to those famed gold-fields in the West Coast of New Zealand) that Holy Faith for which they so often shed their dearest blood, nay sacrificed their very lives in its defence. "Man proposes but God disposes." The great work was destined for others to fulfil. It is supposed that the unfortunate steamer with all on board was lost somewhere outside the Wellington heads, portions of the wreck which were found there leading to this supposition. I may also add that besides the High Mass which was celebrated by his Lordship all the other priests said different masses for the same purpose. On the same day the above ceremony took place two of the priests who assisted at the celebration, the Rev. Fathers Royer and McGirr, left Wellington to labour in the same sphere in which their Rev. friend so lately lost his life in trying to reach. The Rev. Father McGirr likewise lately came from Victoria where he had been in the mission for some years, while Father Royer was called from the Otago mission where he has been for some time zealously labouring in promoting the glory of the Lord. At his departure from hence addresses were presented to him which show the esteem in which the people of that quarter appreciated his priestly virtues.

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Roman Catholic Church, Lyttelton Times, NZ, 16 August 1866, p 5, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18660816.2.10:

The church in the Ferry Road, Christchurch, continues to be well attended. Services are occasionally held in that at Lyttelton, where it is intended, as soon as possible, to procure the permanent ministry of a resident priest. At Hokitika, a chapel has been erected, in which the Rev. Father McGirr officiates. Already the chapel is too small to accommodate the congregation worshipping there, and it is intended to erect a larger building as soon as the necessary funds can be raised. As there are so many Catholics residing at the West Coast, no difficulty is anticipated in doing this.

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The Argus, Melbourne, 27 October 1866, p 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5776990:

Miss Julia Mathews, the well-known actress, arrived yesterday by the Gothenburg, from New Zealand. We observe that before leaving Hokitika she received a handsome cross, of solid gold, of the Westland mines, from the Rev. J. McGirr, as a memento of the services rendered by her at a concert in aid of the Catholic Church funds.

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Colonist, NZ, 31 May 1867 p 3, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18670531.2.10:

A fracas has occurred at Hokitika that has caused much scandal among the Roman Catholic fraternity there. According to the statements made before the Resident Magistrate, the Rev. Father McGirr came into the chapel immediately after mass on the 12th instant, and asked Benjamin Hamill, a teacher at the Roman Catholic school, for a list of certain books, which the latter said he would not give him. Father McGirr then replied that if the books were not given to him he would sue the teacher for the value of them, whereupon Hamill replied that Father McGirr could not sue him as he had given him (Hamill) the books in consideration of certain work that he had done. A dispute then arose, in which it appeared that both complainant and defendant called one another liars, which resulted, as the complainant alleged, in Father McGirr striking him on the face. An adjournment of the case was applied for and granted till Tuesday, the 14th instant, for the attendance of Father Larkins, who had witnessed the affair. Mr. South, for the defence, deplored the unhappy differences that had lately taken place amongst the pastors of the Roman Church; and remarked that there was evidently great ill-feeling existing between the parties in this case, but denied that the defendant had struck the complainant, he had merely pushed the defendant back and not struck him. At the adjourned hearing on Tuesday, Mr. Harvey offered to withdraw the information if the Rev. Father McGirr would apologise, and Mr. South, for the defendant, expressed his willingness, although his client had not authorised him to make an apology, to say that "if Father McGirr had lost his temper, and done anything he was sorry for, he would apologise." This was declined by the plaintiff's counsel, and the case closed. Mr. South stated that Father McGirr had not struck Mr. Hammill, but merely pushed him back, and that even had he struck him, any man, though he were a priest, would resent the insult he had received. The information was dismissed.— Grey River Argus.

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Shipping Intelligence, Wellington Independent, NZ, 9 July 1867 p 3, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WI18670709.2.4.2:

Arrived. July 6. Airedale, s.s., 286 tons, Kennedy, from Picton, Nelson, Taranaki and Manukau.
Passenger List. Inwards. Per Airedale. Cabin—[...] Rev. J. McGirr [...]

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West Coast Times, NZ, 30 January 1868, p 5, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WCT18680130.2.26:

The Rev. Father McGirr, one of the first Roman Catholic clergymen of Westland will shortly leave for Europe. Mr McGirr will bear with him the regular exeat, as well as a recommendatory letter from his Bishop.

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Sunday's procession, West Coast Times, NZ, 10 March 1868, p 2, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WCT18680310.2.18:

To the Editor of the West Coast Times
Sir—In your report of the Fenian demonstration you state that "the vanguard of the procession, consisting of the Rev. Mr McDonough; Mr Clarke, M.C.C.; and Mr Melody, arrived in the Cemetery on horseback." Will you allow me, as a careful observer of what took place upon the occasion, to state that the Rev. Mr McDonough took no part in the proceedings, but was present, I believe, simply from a sense of duty, in case reasons for exerting his influence to calm excitement should unfortunately have arisen; your reporter might have noticed that the Rev. gentleman referred to was in his ordinary dress, and wore no party emblems whatever.

The report also stated that "the Ross contingent, headed by the Rev. Mr Golding [Golden], Curate of Ross, arrived on the ground." Mr Golding has, to my own knowledge, no ecclesiastical status in this diocese, and cannot, therefore, be "Curate of Ross."

I am, &c, C. E. Haughton. Hokitika, March 9, 1868.

[With reference to the Ecclesiastical Status of the Rev Mr Golding we of course accept Mr Haughton's statement as that of an authority better informed than ourselves. We can corroborate Mr Haughton's further statement that the Rev. Mr McDonough wore no party symbol on the occasion of the Fenian demonstration, and that he took no active part in the proceedings of the day. We believe that he acted the part of a conscientious clergyman and a faithful pastor, in an endeavor to promote by the moral influence of his presence amongst his flock a peaceful issue of the proceedings of the day. We should be sorry if any expression used by our reporter could be interpreted in the sense of censure upon a gentleman whose conduct whilst amongst us as a Catholic clergyman has entitled him to the fullest public respect. We may add incidentally that the Rev. Mr McGirr, who was the first priest located in this district, and who for a long period ministered solely to the Catholic residents, held himself aloof from Sunday's demonstration.—Ed. W.C.T.]

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The Rev. Father McGirr, West Coast Times, NZ, 7 April 1868, p 2, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WCT18680407.2.11:

This respected clergyman, who was the first Catholic Missionary in Westland, and whose ministrations have proved most acceptable to the flock he has gathered about him, will, we understand, take his final leave on Thursday, proceeding to Melbourne by the Gothenburg. Mr McGirr was notably the minister of peace whilst the management of the affairs of the Catholic Church in Westland was left in his hands. For many reasons we could have wished that the old arrangement had not been disturbed. Father McGirr always stood well with his fellow-citizens in Hokitika, and none of our present troubles came upon us until his successors arrived. We believe it is the intention of a few of Mr McGirr's friends to meet this evening, in the vestibule of the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, for the purpose of concerting measures for presenting him with some testimonial of respect, prior to his departure from the district. We hope there will be a numerous attendance.

As some reports have been in circulation respecting the Rev. Mr McGirr, to the effect that he has been suspended from his clerical functions, and was under ecclesiastical censure, we are glad to have the opportunity of publishing the following letter, received by him from the Right Rev. Dr. Viard, Bishop of Wellington. It will be seen that the letter is dated as far back as the 1st of June last, and the fact that Mr McGirr has not before given publicity to it, is surely a proof of some forbearance and consideration. We may add, that the letter covers the usual exeat in accordance with the forms of the Catholic Church. Bishop Viard writes:—

Wellington, June 1st, 1867.
Reverend and very Dear Sir—In the present difficulties I am bound to avail myself of the generous offer you made to me, through love for peace, on the wharf at Wellington, when last time I accompanied you, on your going to Hokitika with the Reverend Fathers Larkin and Golden—that is, of leaving the West Coast and of returning to Melbourne, in case that the pastor of Greymouth would object to your laboring in the north part of his district. Now, as such is the case, consequently, according to your request, I send you with regret your exeat. Should, at some future time, more favourable circumstances occur, I shall be happy to receive your services in my diocese. In conclusion, allow me to express to you my gratitude for the zealous labours you have gone through during your stay at Hokitika.
Wishing you every blessing,
I remain your's sincerely,
+ Ph. T. Viard,
Bishop of Wellington.
To the Rev. F. John McGirr.

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West Coast Times, NZ, 9 April 1868, p 2, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WCT18680409.2.8:

The Rev. Father McGirr will leave Hokitika, this morning, by the steamer Gothenburg for Melbourne. He carries with him the hearty good wishes of almost the whole community. It will be seen that last evening a number of his friends, comprising members of all denominations, presented him with a handsome testimonial accompanied by an address expressive of their respect for his character, and their regret at his leaving the district.

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Shipping Intelligence. Arrived (Hobson's Bay), Bendigo Advertiser, 18 April 1868, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87895347:

April 16—Gothenburg, s.s, 459 tons, Thomas Underwood, from Hokitika and Greymouth. 10th inst. Passengers: saloon— [...] Rev J McGirr [...] from Hokitika [...]

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Gippsland Times, 21 April 1868, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61209446:

The Rev. Father McGirr—who is now on his way to England—received on the night before his departure, a very handsome testimonial of esteem from the inhabitants of Hokitika. The reverend gentleman has laboured among the people from the first days of the settlment there, and has always proved himself a messenger of "peace and goodwill." His intention to proceed home had only been known a few hours. A subscription was at once instituted for a presentation, which took the form of a very handsome and valuable gold lever watch and Albert chain. The presentation was made at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, and was accompanied by a very complimentary address, to which the reverend father replied in feeling terms.

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News and Notes, The Ballarat Star, 22 April 1868, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113602742:

On 8th April, at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, Hokitika, a valedictory address and a testimonial, consisting of a very handsome gold lever watch, Albert chain with slide, set with diamonds, and locket attached, were presented to the Rev. Father McGirr —some years since parish priest at Creswick—on the occasion of his departure for Europe.

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Shipping Intelligence, Bendigo Advertiser, 10 July 1868, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87897150:

Alexandra, s.s, 425 tons, J.W. Brown, for Sydney. Passengers—cabin: [...] Rev J. McGirr [...]

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Shipping. Clearances, Sydney Morning Herald, 21 January 1869, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13190502:

City of Adelaide (s.), 615 tons, Captain Walker, for Melbourne. Passengers— [...] Rev. J. McGirr [...]

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Passengers Sailed Since the Departure of the March Mail, The Age, Melbourne, 29 March 1869, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article177006548:

March 4.—Talbot, ship, for Cape Town and London. Cabin: For London— [...] Rev Father McGirr [...]

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Deaths, The Argus, Melbourne, 1 October 1869, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5824179:

McGirr.—On the 8th Aug., at Southend, England, the Rev. John McGirr, R.C.C., late of Gipps Land.

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Grey River Argus, NZ, 18 December 1869, p 2, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GRA18691218.2.7:

Recent home papers record the death of the Rev. Father McGirr at London. The reverend gentleman was long and favorably known in the Hokitika district as a zealous and faithful clergyman. Before his death he bequeathed the whole of his property, amounting to about L5OOO, to the church.

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Death registration: McGirr, John, aged 54, September quarter 1869, Rochford, 4a 142, https://www.freebmd.org.uk/

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Rev. John McGirr, Advocate, Melbourne, 26 February 1947, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article172485763:

Following on last week's reference to the notable part played in the Catholic pioneer history of New South Wales by the McGirr family, of which the new Premier of N.S.W., the Hon. James McGirr, is an illustrious member, it is interesting to learn that a grand uncle of the Premier took an equally notable part in the early history of Catholicism in Victoria.

Rev. John McGirr was one of the pioneer priests of Gippsland, where he arrived at the end of 1859. He lived at Tarraville and was pastor of all Gippsland until 1864. He travelled extensively throughout his vast district and built the first church at Sale, the forerunner of the present Cathedral. The foundation-stone of the original church was laid in 1859 and the foundation-stone was blessed by Bishop Goold in 1861. Fr. McGirr collected the funds. The church was afterwards demolished to make way for the Cathedral. Fr. McGirr also built schools at Stratford, Tarraville and Woranga.

He was a very popular priest, noted for his intellectual ability and his wit. He was stationed formerly at Creswick and Daylesford and after leaving Victoria in 1864 he went to New Zealand where he laboured on the west coast for many years. Eventually he returned to Europe and died at Liverpool, England, on his way to Ireland.

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Educational Struggle In Early Gippsland, Advocate, Melbourne, 23 December 1948, p 11, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article172501048:

[...] Father John McGirr who had come to Gippsland in the September of '59, succeeded Father Verling as pastor. Previously stationed at Creswick and Daylesford, he came to Gippsland evidently with a view to the development of its northern district, where, in fact, most of his time was spent and practically the whole of his labour. This portion of Gippsland in the early 'sixties was well peopled with gold seekers and an appreciable number of landholders. Towns were springing up on the goldfields and the country was taking shape.

Father McGirr
During the four years of his pastorate Father McGirr proved himself a master of organization at a time when conditions of living and primitive methods of transport might have daunted a less able man. From Tarraville he ranged the vast expanse of his parish, riding northwards and to the east, to Sale, the Mitchell, Omeo, Crooked River, Mount Useful. He was a familiar figure in mining camp and squatter's homestead, his evident zeal and ready wit gaining him the friendship and esteem of men of every creed. The Catholic Directory of 1863 notes that Rev. J. McGirr is clergyman in charge of Gippsland and that stations are held at Sale, Stratford and Woranga. An understatement surely of the pastor's activity. A notice in the Gippsland "Times" of January that same year is more enlightening: "The Rev. Mr. McGirr will celebrate Divine Service at the Crooked River on Sunday, 25; at Omeo on Sunday, February 1, and at Sale on Sunday, February 8."

First Sale Church
He built the first church at Sale on the site of the present Cathedral; it was opened and blessed by Bishop Goold in May, 1861. A member of a scholarly family and great-uncle of the present Premier of New South Wales, much could be written of his work in Gippsland. But he belongs to a period outside the scope of this narrative, which can but make reference to him as preparing the way for the division of the province into two separate missions. The history of parochial development begins with Father McGirr. The Gippsland "Times" referred to his departure from the province in February, 1864:

"Mr. McGirr will leave his mark in Gippsland, not only in the useful edifices which have been erected by his zealous efforts in the cause of his Church, but also in the many concessions made by the Government for the advancement of this district. He took an active part in obtaining grants for opening up our goldfields, in extending postal communications, in establishing a gold escort, and whatever else conduced to the best interests of our small community."

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Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 1, 1979, p 51: "McGirr, John / Ir. / Syd. Melb., Eng. d. 6.8.1869."

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Michael O'Meeghan SM, Steadfast in Hope: The Story of the Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington 1850-2000, Dunmore Press, 2003, pp 77-78, 87-88:

At the time of the Bishop's visit [to Otago-Southland in late 1864] sluicing was already beginning to replace shovel and pan at the Tuapeka. It was a sign of what would follow elsewhere - that the-easier-to-find gold had been picked over, that the peak of the frenzy had passed, and that the erratic scattering of shanty towns would shape into about a dozen organised settlements across Otago. The need for his priests to be endlessly on the move keeping up with a transient population would ease, and they would begin to settle as mission rectors in one place with an outlying circuit. By the end of the year two more priests arrived, both by way of Australia. John McGirr was English, and had gone to Victoria after completing a stint as a chaplain in India. [...]

But just when Viard might have felt he was catching up with Otago, news began to break about gold in West Canterbury and the Otago phenomenon was repeated on an even larger scale. By late 1865 McGirr and Royer had to be siphoned off to take charge in Hokitika and Greymouth where Catholics were planning churches and asking for priests. [...]

Royer volunteered to follow the rush from Otago, and was based in Greymouth by October 1865. Something similar happened with McGirr who was in Hokitika soon after. Initially Viard probably had little appreciation of how each town was developing, for both priests were commissioned to carry the cathedral collection through the mining areas. But soon the Bishop came to terms with reality, told both to use from the collection what was required for local needs and appointed them mission rectors in their respective towns. Greymouth opened its small church on 10 December; Hokitika's small chapel followed on the 23rd while a larger church was already under construction. By the time Viard visited in May the next year, accompanied once again by the faithful O'Reily, the West Coast population had probably reached its peak of over 30,000, with a likely 7,000-8,000 Catholics.

After a Nelson stopover, Viard's first port of call was Hokitika, then with a population of about 9,000. The Bishop opened the Church of St Mary on 13 May and administered Confirmation. In mid-week he went by ship to Okarito, a further 135 km south, to a rousing welcome. His Pentecost Sunday Mass on 20 May in the Coughlan family home had several hundred crowding around outside. [...]

At Hokitika a Father Golden was McGirr's first curate, possibly even before Viard's visit, but he seemed to take responsibility for Ross 30 km further south. [...] But the others are better known and left a short but turbulent trail. Stephen McDonough and William Larkin were two priests who had opted out of Bishop James Quinn's dictatorial regime in Brisbane, 24 been accepted by Viard and directed to Hokitika in late 1866. Early the next year Viard called all four to Wellington for a reprimand, but this did not put an end to the friction. By April Garin was writing to Viard asking what he should do about McGirr, Larkin and McDonough who were at loggerheads with each other and with parishioners over the Fenian question. The result was a notice in the West Coast Times in early May: "The Reverends McGirr, Larkin and McDonough will be replaced at Hokitika by the Reverend Fathers Hallum and Golden. They are allowed one fortnight for their removal. Reverend Father McGirr is appointed to a mission north of Greymouth, and the two latter gentlemen will continue the collection. Signed Philip Joseph Viard, Bishop of Wellington." It is not clear how effective or permanent this directive was, for they were all involved when serious trouble flared the following year. [...]

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Colin Fowler, Disentangling the McGirrs of Colonial New South Wales, Journal of the Australian Catholic Historical Society 40 2019, 23–38 [footnotes not included]:

[...] Three priests bearing the name ‘J. McGirr’ ministered in colonial NSW between 1855 and 1874; one was John, two were James. Contemporary newspapers conflated the details of their lives, and secondary sources compounded the confusion.

[...]

The relationships between three of the colonial McGirrs is clearly stated in two obituaries in Sydney’s Freeman’s Journal: that of a ‘fine old Irishwoman’ in October 1887 and of Michael McGirr in February 1890. The ‘old Irishwoman’ was the centenarian Mrs. Margaret McGirr of the Westport district of County Mayo. As well as celebrating how ‘in hard famine days of forty-seven ‘tis well remembered how she was wont to feed the starving and dying poor, and to coffin, with her own hands, the friendless dead’, the obituary, reprinted from the Mayo Examiner, recorded family details:

She had six sons and three daughters — the second eldest son, the late Rev. James M’Girr, CC Moylough, for some time in India and Australia, and whom she had for long the happiness to see minister at the altar. Her fourth son, Mr. Michael M’Girr, still lives, and is in Australia, proprietor of the Sydney Freeman’s Journal, and while he is an honour to the new land of his adoption, he is still true unto the old land of his birth.

The obituary of her son Michael confirmed him as a sibling of Reverend James and added the information that the brothers were cousins to the younger Reverend James: ‘The deceased had one brother a priest (the late Rev. James McGirr), and two cousins, the late Rev. James McGirr, of Bathurst, and Father Peter McGirr, now of Cong, Ireland’.

It is to be noted that the Reverend John McGirr was not mentioned in either obituary. This evidence convincingly contradicts sources that claim him as a brother of James. A 1947 reminiscence in the Melbourne Catholic newspaper, the Advocate, described Rev. John McGirr as a grand-uncle of the Honourable James McGirr, premier of NSW. The same relationship is elsewhere claimed for the two other reverends, which makes John a cousin to them. These are the family relationships assumed in this article. Their estimated dates of birth were: John 1818; James 1822; James Joseph 1829; Michael 1833.

The McGirr clan was originally from County Armagh, but following the 1795 ‘Battle of the Diamond’, a deadly attack by the Protestant population on Catholic neighbours, there was a mass migration of Catholics to the Province of Connaught, where members of the McGirr family settled in Culleen and afterwards in Louisburgh, a new ‘planned town’ built by the Earl of Altamont on his West Mayo estate in 1795.

Having established the relationships between the colonial McGirrs, it will be of interest to review their careers in order of arrival in New South Wales: John 1856, Michael 1857, James 1860, James Joseph 1864.

Eleven years before John McGirr’s 1855 departure for Australia on the Phoenix, he was reported as being among a party of Irish missionaries embarking on the iron steamer Fire Queen setting out on her maiden voyage from Kingstown for Calcutta in April 1844.

After ecclesiastical studies at St Jarlath’s College, John McGirr had been ordained for Calcutta in July 1843 by Archbishop McHale. His recruitment for the Bengal mission would have happened during the time spent in Ireland during 1843 by Thomas Olliffe, apostolic missionary, who had been chosen as co-adjutor to Bishop Patrick Carew, Vicar Apostolic of Bengal. Both before and after his episcopal consecration in October 1843, he toured Ireland seeking volunteers among priests, seminarians and nuns. Olliffe, a member of a prominent Cork family, was ‘not fully thirty years of age’ when consecrated in his home city. He had joined the new Bengal Vicariate Apostolic in 1838 immediately after studies at Propaganda Fide and ordination in Rome. In 1850 he became the first Vicar Apostolic of Eastern Bengal, based at Dacca, while remaining coadjutor to Archbishop Carew. He succeeded Carew in 1855. He died at the age of 45 in March 1859 at Naples, while returning to Ireland for his health’s sake. The appointment of English-speaking bishops, many Irish, to Indian sees was part of Propaganda’s effort to wrest control of the dioceses of the subcontinent from the Portuguese crown.

John McGirr’s ministry in Bengal was principally in education at St John’s in Calcutta. In a notice in the Bengal Catholic Herald of December 1848 concerning the college, the rector was named as ‘Rev J. McGirr’; among the ‘gentlemen’ assisting him in ‘conducting the several classes’ was ‘Rev. Mr. McGirr Junr’, in charge of ‘Greek, French and the Use of Globes’. James McGirr, John’s young cousin, had arrived in Bengal as a seminarian in August 1846.

In a letter written from Dublin on 9 September 1851 to the Tablet, John McGirr appealed for funds and personnel for the new Vicariate of East Bengal, to where he had moved with Bishop Olliffe following the establishment of the Dacca diocese in 1850. In November the Tablet reported that two ‘exemplary ladies’ from the Loreto convent at Navan were setting out for Dacca, ‘their remote destination, under the protection of the Rev. Mr. McGirr’. This is the last reference found connecting John McGirr to India. The next reference to him is as ‘recently a missionary in Southwark’ setting out for Australia in October 1855.

Archbishop John Bede Polding, during his sixteen-month stay in Europe from May 1854, had been recruiting with a special focus on the educational needs of his Archdiocese. On board the Phoenix with the Archbishop were three Benedictine nuns destined for Subiaco Convent School and two Irish priests for St Mary’s College, Lyndhurst. As Polding explained to Cardinal Barnabò of Propaganda Fide in Rome some years later:

On my return to the Colony in 1856, I wished the Benedictine Community to limit itself to the education of its own members, and the secular clergy to attend to the education of the secular clergy at the college of Lyndhurst. A secular priest was constituted President, another, Vice-President each with a salary of £100, besides board and lodging; and everything necessary was provided for them. I engaged also some assistant teachers.

The appointment of John McGirr and Patrick Newman to the college soon after their arrival in February 1856 was recorded in the Benedictine Journal: ‘Great changes at Lyndhurst college … The Revd J McGirr has been appointed ‘Principal’; Revd Paul [Roche OSB] ‘Prefect’; Rev Newman and Mr P O’Dee Subprefects.’

However, as Polding went on to explain bitterly to Barnabò, things did not work out as he had hoped: ‘But the president grew discontented, considering his salary too low.’ In a subsequent letter to Propaganda, Polding enclosed a chronological list of priests who had abandoned or had been dismissed from the mission since 1840. Last of the 31 names was John McGirr: ‘Quarrelsome. Disappointed at not having a profitable mission, according to his tastes, he asked to be allowed to retire. This permission was freely given’. Most of the listed dismissals were for drunkenness or immorality.

McGirr was replaced as President of Lyndhurst at the beginning of 1857. He continued briefly in Sydney in charge of the Petersham mission, but in November it was announced that ‘the Rev. Mr. McGirr, formerly of Lyndhurst College, is now attached to St. Francis’, Melbourne’. His first assignment was to the mission at Creswick in central Victoria. As a former missionary in Bengal, he was appointed to a committee to collect funds for the relief of victims of the Indian Mutiny of 1857.

In 1859 he took charge of the Gippsland mission in eastern Victoria. His ministry was summarised in 1948 by the Vicar-General of the Sale Diocese, Tipperary-born Patrick Mary O’Donnell, later archbishop of Brisbane from 1965 to 1973, the last of Australia’s Irish-born archbishops:

During the four years of his pastorate Father McGirr proved himself a master of organization at a time when conditions of living and primitive methods of transport might have daunted a less able man. From Tarraville he ranged the vast expanse of his parish, riding northwards and to the east … He was a familiar figure in mining camp and squatter’s homestead, his evident zeal and ready wit gaining him the friendship and esteem of men of every creed … A member of a scholarly family and great-uncle of the present Premier of New South Wales, much could be written of his work in Gippsland.

However, his time in Gippsland was not without controversy. In September 1861 the Melbourne Age carried the headline: ‘Clerical Interference in Elections: an extraordinary sermon’. The article reported on a 300-strong public meeting held at Sale on polling day to protest against the ‘conduct of the Rev. Mr M’Girr, the Roman Catholic priest, for having from the altar, on the Sunday previous, thought proper to address the members of his congregation as to the manner in which they should vote’. One of McGirr’s congregation, a Mr. McGhee, addressed the meeting:

The Catholics in this country were quite intelligent enough to think for themselves upon the respective merits of candidates before them, and he hoped that they would make this election a lesson to others that in matters of politics they would not be dictated to by religious advisers … And as they only had the benefit of Mr M’Girr’s services once a month for an hour and a quarter, he thought that his congregation should have the benefit of all he could give them in that time. They ought to have as much of religion as he could cram into them in that short interval.

When, four weeks later, Father McGirr was again in the Sale pulpit, it was not religion he crammed into his congregation, but a verbal attack on Mr. McGhee. The Age, under the heading, ‘The Rev. Mr. McGirr Again’, commented that ‘the reverend gentleman has been delivering another edifying “pastoral” to his benighted flock’, and published a letter from McGhee expressing his outrage:

Mr M’Girr favored us yesterday, Sunday, in church with a few amusing ebullitions of temper, displayed against myself. His brilliant declamation and withering sarcasm failed to produce its intended purpose. He made a few complimentary comparisons between Judas and myself, the point of which I could not discover … As I go to church to hear a sermon not a mass of scandalous language I must unwillingly exclude myself from the benefits of his ministrations, as I strongly object to the house of God being converted into a beer-garden.

McGirr did not mollify his ‘ebullitions of temper’ when he crossed the Tasman in October 1864 to take up a mission in the newly discovered gold fields on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. In June 1867, the Melbourne Age and several Victorian provincial newspapers carried a story, which began: ‘A fracas has occurred at Hokitika that has caused much scandal among the Roman Catholic residents there’. The incident involved a public dispute after Sunday Mass between McGirr and the local Catholic school teacher over some books, which the priest demanded be returned and the teacher claimed to have been given to him in consideration of work carried out. ‘Both complainant and defendant called one another liars, which resulted, as the complainant alleged, in Father M’Girr striking him on the face.’ The case went before the magistrate and ‘the information was dismissed’. Other cases involving McGirr found their way to the magistrate’s court: McGirr v. Hardcastle (November 1867); McGirr v. Smith and Co. (February 1868); Hardcastle v. McGirr (March 1868).

When the litigious priest finally took his leave ‘for the far distant shores of the mother country’, he was afforded a fond farewell and parting gifts. In his speech of thanks he made some remarkable claims: ‘During my life I have ever been a man of peace (Cheers) … I have been for five-and-twenty years a Clergyman, and never during that long-period have I had a contention with a single person (Great applause).’ He went on to make comments about Irish loyalty, which might seem to contradict the very basis of this article—the identification of John McGirr as a supporter of the Russians in the Crimean War:

I can safely affirm, no one more loyal than an Irishman (Hear, hear and cheers). It is true that Ireland has her grievances, but I confidently expect that those grievances will soon be redressed, and that we shall once more live in love and peace, and become one united dominant nation (Loud applause). Speaking of the Irish, where is there a more loyal or braver Regiment than the 18th Royal Irish, to which I was chaplain in India (Cheers). They were at Inkermann—the Irish took the Redan. They never found an Irishman leave his post. They were always first in attack and last in retreat. Of those Irishmen none were ever disloyal to his Queen or country.

The context of this expressed pride in Irish participation in the Crimean War needs to be considered: in March 1868 the West Coast’s Catholic community heard that three Fenians had been hanged in Manchester for killing a police sergeant. Catholics in Hokitika organised a huge funeral procession in honour of the Fenians. When it reached the local cemetery, the priest, Father William Larkin, conducted a burial service and a memorial Celtic cross was erected in honour of ‘the Manchester martyrs’. Larkin was arrested, charged, convicted of riot and seditious libel, fined £20 and imprisoned for two months. Perhaps McGirr was taking the opportunity offered by his farewell to safely distance himself from the local disturbances, as well as from the much-reported attempted assassination of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, at Sydney later in March by the Fenian Henry O’Farrell, which resulted in anti-Irish hysteria throughout the Antipodes.

In October 1869 his death notice appeared in the Melbourne Age, which had assiduously followed his controversial ministry near and far: ‘The mail which has just arrived has brought the intelligence of the death, at Southend, England, on the 8th of August, of the Rev. John McGirr, C.C., late of Gipps Land’.