Robert George McGarrigle was born in Alloa in 1939. He was educated at Campion House Osterly and St Andrew's College, Drygrange near Melrose in the Scottish Borders. He was ordained in Stirling in 1968. His first parish was St Kentigern's Edinburgh where he served as assistant Priest from 1968 until 1974.

Upon the departure from Kilsyth of assistant Priest Fr. Keith O'Brien , now His Eminence Cardinal O'Brien, Fr McGarrigle was appointed to work with Fr Denis O'Connell who was the Parish Priest of St Patrick's at that time.. He was to stay in Kilsyth from 1974 until 1981 undertaking all of the usual tasks expected of an assistant Priest notably running the alter boys, introduced alter girls for the first time and assisted Fr O'Connell with pilgrimages to Rosewell to promote the beatification of at that time the Blessed Margaret Sinclair (now Venerable) and preparing children at St Patrick's school for first communion, confession and confirmation.

After leaving Kilsyth, Fr McGarrigle was posted to Holy Cross Edinburgh from 1981 to 1983 and was then asked to become the Chaplain of St Andrews University from 1983 to 1987. In 1987 he was transferred as Parish Priest to St Mary of the Angels at Camelon near Falkirk where he worked until 1989. There are no further entries for Fr McGarrigle in the Scottish Catholic Directory after this date.