Background
His father Daniel McKillop emigrated to Ayrshire from Glenarm in Antrim.
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William McKillop
Edit ProfileMember of Parliament in the United Kingdom
Career
William McKillop was asked to stand as the nationalist candidate for North Sligo at the 1900 general election, and readily agreed. He was elected unopposed and soon became Treasurer of the Irish Parliamentary Party. Foreign reasons that are unclear, McKillop switched seats at the 1906 general election, from North Sligo to South Armagh, where he was returned unopposed.
He held the seat until his death on 6 August 1909.
In March 1906, shortly after McKillop"s election in January as Member of Parliament for South Armagh, the Armagh County Committee of the Gaelic Athletic Association accepted his offer to "present a cup and set of medals for competition amongst Gaelic Football clubs in Armagh." The cup was made in Scotland, and was described by the Dundalk Democrat in 1907 as "very valuable one" and "a triumph of the silversmith"s art". Made of solid silver and weighing over 82 ounces, the cup is over two feet high
The William McKillop cup was first presented to the winners of the 1906-1907 League, and since 1931 it been awarded to the county"s Senior Championship winners. The William McKillop cup was retired by the Armagh Gaelic Athletic Association in 1995, after being replaced with the Gerry Fagan Cup.
Politics
The by-now prosperous McKillop family were involved in several Irish political organisations in Glasgow. William"s obituary in the Freeman"s Journal described him as "a staunch Irish nationalist who took a lively interest in the Irish movement in Glasgow and was a leading member of the home Government Branch to which he always gave splendid financial support." In those days, Members of Parliament were not paid, and the Irish Party therefore had to find candidates wealthy enough to support themselves.
Membership
27th United Kingdom Parliament. 28th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was a founding member of the committee which established the Glasgow Celtic football club, but is probably better known for the William, which he donated to Armagh Gaelic Athletic Association.
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Born
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Died
August 25, 1909 (aged 49) -
Nationality
Irish -
Political Party
Parliamentary Party Member