Parish of Saint Paul, The Apostle

Rev. James Kirby

Fr. Kirby is one of the few priests that has served the same parish on more than one occasion. His first term in the parish was from January 1970 - September 1971. His second term was slightly longer from September 1983 - September 1990.

He was transferred from Sacred Heart, Cumbernauld in 1970 to become Assistant priest replacing Fr. Fitzgerald and joined a three strong team of clergy making a total of four priests looking after the parish. Part of his parish duties were to look after the Legion of Mary with the help of the then President Margaret McHugh as well as looking after the youth of the parish. Part of the youth activities he took part in with great relish was the weekly disco and badminton club in the old church hall. One of the members of the badminton club was Dan Travers who went on to International and Commonwealth honours and is currently a coaching specialist to the Scottish Badminton Association.

One of the main delights for Fr. Kirby was the full implementation of the new Liturgy as well as the establishing of a Youth Group to provide music at the Sunday evening Mass.

In September '71 he was transferred to All Saints', Barmulloch which had just been established.