Editing Michael Kirby (judge) (section)

===Family===
Kirby's father, Donald, was the only child of Alma Caroline (Norma) Grey, a single working mother of English—Irish descent. Norma became pregnant at 15 with Donald Kirby<ref name="Paradoxes"/> while in a relationship with a then-17-year-old Victor Kirby, a Catholic who had arrived after the Great Famine.  Norma's parents were John Emmanuel Gray, an English brick- and boiler- maker and Annie Lyons.  Annie's father, Harry Lyons, had emigrated from Dublin to Sydney in the 1850s, following the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine]] and her mother's name was Mary.

His mother, Jean Langmore Knowles, was born in [[Berwick, Victoria]] to William Knowles, an [[Ulster Scots people|Ulster Scot]] from [[Ballymena]], and Margaret, as one of four daughters.<ref name="Paradoxes"/> Jean was a graduate of [[Sydney Girls High School]], obtaining a Leaving Certificate, a rarity for a woman at that time, and worked in numerous paid jobs by virtue of her own successes and ability.<ref name="Paradoxes"/> Donald Kirby, aged 16, and Jean Knowles first met at Saint Martin's Anglican Church, [[Kensington, New South Wales|Kensington]]. Donald attended [[Sydney Technical College|Sydney Technical School]] in [[Ultimo, New South Wales|Ultimo]], and afterwards worked as a general assistant, then tool and machinery salesman, at a hardware firm.<ref name="Paradoxes"/> The two became engaged on Jean's 21st birthday and were married in March 1937, a month after Donald turned 21; their first home was in Bloomfield Street, [[South Coogee]].<ref name="Paradoxes"/>

Michael Kirby's brothers have also been lawyers: [[David Kirby (judge)|David]] was a judge of the [[Supreme Court of New South Wales]], retiring in 2011; Donald was a solicitor until retiring in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/obituaries/extraordinary-impacts-of-a-family-mans-ordinary-life-20111117-1nl0f.html|title=Extraordinary impacts of a family man's 'ordinary' life|author=A. J. Brown|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=18 November 2011|access-date=12 February 2013}}</ref> Sister Diana was a nurse in the Colorectal Unit of the [[Royal Prince Alfred Hospital]] in Sydney, retiring in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hcourt.gov.au/assets/publications/speeches/former-justices/kirbyj/kirbyj_2feb09.pdf|title=Judicial Farewell: The Hon. Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG, Justice of the High Court of Australia|author=Michael Kirby|publisher=Michael Kirby|date=2 February 2009|access-date=12 February 2013}}</ref>