John McKillop (1921-41)

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John McKillop

Born in Ayrshire of Irish parents, McKillop was a member of the Irish National League’s Home Government Branch in Glasgow. From here he fell into the company of Glass, Walsh and others and became part of their challenge to get a new Irish team started. He had links with other parishes besides St. Mary's, principally St. Andrew's in the city centre. A successful licensed grocer McKillop and his brother John, also a Celtic Committee member, owned a chain of restaurants which became one of Glasgow's biggest and eventually purchased the Grosvenor Hotel in Glasgow’s west end. McKillop wasn’t finished there – he went on to become the nationalist MP for North Sligo in 1900 and then South Armagh 8 years later. Throughout his business and political careers McKillop remained active and committed to the Celtic cause and promoted it in Scotland, Ireland and beyond.

The nephew of the original board member of thesame name John McKillop was an insurance agent by trade.

He succeeded Michael Dunbar on the Celtic board and served the club between 1921 and 1941 when he retired.