Date of Birth: 11/10/1879
Place of Birth: Parkes, New South Wales, Australia
Date of Death: 23/03/1949
Place of Death: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
| Member for Sydney |
25 Mar 1922 |
18 Apr 1925 |
3 years 25 days |
|
| Minister for Public Health and Motherhood |
20 Dec 1921 |
13 Apr 1922 |
3 months 25 days |
|
| Minister for Labour and Public Health and Motherhood |
10 Oct 1921 |
20 Dec 1921 |
2 months 11 days |
|
| Minister for Public Health and Motherhood |
13 Apr 1920 |
10 Oct 1921 |
1 year 5 months 28 days |
|
| Member for Cootamundra |
20 Mar 1920 |
17 Feb 1922 |
1 year 10 months 29 days |
|
| Member for Yass |
24 Mar 1917 |
18 Feb 1920 |
2 years 10 months 26 days |
|
| Prevalence of Venereal Diseases Committee No. 7 |
11 Aug 1916 |
21 Dec 1916 |
4 months 11 days |
|
| The Governor's Opening Speech Committee No. 1 |
18 Jul 1916 |
21 Dec 1916 |
5 months 4 days |
|
| Military and Naval Hospital Home Bill Committee No. 9 |
22 Jul 1915 |
13 Apr 1916 |
8 months 23 days |
|
| Prevalence of Venereal Diseases Committee No. 8 |
07 Jul 1915 |
13 Apr 1916 |
9 months 7 days |
|
| The Governor's Opening Speech Committee No. 1 |
15 Jun 1915 |
13 Apr 1916 |
9 months 30 days |
|
| Member for Yass |
06 Dec 1913 |
21 Feb 1917 |
3 years 2 months 16 days |
|
| The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 |
23 Jul 1913 |
23 Jul 1913 |
1 day |
Chairman |
| Member for Yass |
05 Mar 1913 |
06 Nov 1913 |
8 months 2 days |
|
| Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly |
05 Mar 1913 |
18 Apr 1925 |
12 years 1 month 14 days |
|
Political Party Activity
Australian Labor Party (ALP), whip from 1916 until 1917, deputy leader from 1921 until 1922, appointed as leader following expulsion of the executive. Resigned from the party in August in 1923; formed an unsuccessful Young Australia Party. Brother of Patrick Michael McGirr and James McGirr.
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Pharmacist and property owner. Educated at St Joseph's convent, Parkes, and St Stanislaus' College College; at Bathurst and University of Sydney in 1904; opened a pharmacy at Peak Hill, sold the patent to 'McGirr's Rabbo Rabbit Poison' in 1906, invested in pharmacies at Narromine, Orange, Parkes and Sydney; claimed 100,000 pounds in turnover by 1923; made other investments in hotels and country properties; director ex-officio of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital from 1920 until 1922.
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Personal
Son of John Patrick McGirr, farmer and Irish Migrant, and Mary O'Sullivan. Married Rachel Miller-Hermes on 13 November 1917 and had issue, 6 daughters and 3 sons. Roman Catholic. Funeral at Northern Suburbs cemetery from St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in North Sydney.
