It is with heavy heart that we announce the passing of Anthony Kirby on June 1st, 2026, unexpectedly in his apartment in Montreal, at the age of 86.
Son of the late Anthony and Patricia Kirby and brother of the late Philippa McPhillips, Helen Cleary and Patricia Clohosey.
Sadly missed by his brothers John and Denis, sister-in-law Anne, nephews and nieces, his extended family and a wide circle of friends in Canada and Ireland.
For many years, Anthony's smile greeted guests as they entered the Ritz Carlton. His time spent at the hotel was devoted to time as a doorman there, and he was regularly referred to as 'Anthony of the Ritz'. When he wasn't on the door, he was a Bell Captain, which he loved for the opportunities to speak with guests - especially film stars and others in the film business. He was very successful at going beyond the meet-and-greet, and entering into a correspondence with a surprising number of them.
Outside of work, Anthony was devoted to attending music concerts, theatre, and film, and to writing. His film criticism appeared regularly in filmireland.net, and he published articles and commentary in The Irish Times, The Irish Literary Supplement, The Cork Examiner, Irish America Magazine, New York, Music Magazine, Toronto, and The Christian Science Monitor. In 2024, he published For a Dream, a novel set during WW1.
At the St. Patrick's Society Cultural Committee meeting in 1992, he stood up and explained that the Montréal Irish ex-pat community, indeed all film lovers, needed to have an annual Irish Film series to attend. The next year, Ciné Gael Montréal Film started up and it is still going strong. Anthony was a stalwart attendee, always offering advice on films that should be shown. He was sure right about the enthusiastic reception that the annual series received, having just completed the 34th season.
Overarching it all, he was a very devout Catholic, a parishioner at St. Patrick's Basilica, attending Mass several times each week.
He will be much missed within his wide circle of friends. We are blessed to be left with his WWI novel, For A Dream, his great project that he sank enormous energy into.
May he rest in peace.
Funeral Mass will take place in St. Patrick’s Basilica, Montreal, June 17th, 2026 at 2:00pm.
