McGirr was born in Melbourne, and migrated with his family to New Zealand when he was 10.
He worked as a compositor with the Government Printing Office in Wellington for 40 years till he retired in 1915.
[1] In his best bowling performance McGirr took 3 for 21 and 6 for 36 against Canterbury at the Basin Reserve in 1886-87, but Canterbury dismissed Wellington for 65 and 34 and won by 111 runs.
[2] In another defeat for Wellington he was the top-scorer and top wicket-taker against Nelson in March 1886, taking 5 for 30 in Nelson's only innings and scoring 11 and 1, when no other Wellington batsman reached double figures.
[3] One of McGirr's sons, Herb, played Test cricket for New Zealand, and another son, Les, represented New Zealand at soccer.