Conor O'Kelly facts for kids

Conor O'Kelly (born in 1873 – died on October 13, 1915) was an important Irish politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Irish Parliamentary Party. An MP is like a representative who helps make laws for their country.

Who Was Conor O'Kelly?

Conor O'Kelly was a well-known figure in Irish politics during his time. He worked to represent the people of Ireland in the government. His life involved many important roles and elections.

Early Life and Political Start

Conor O'Kelly was born in a place called Claremorris, in County Mayo, Ireland. He quickly became a key member of a group called the United Irish League. This group worked for the rights of Irish people. In 1899, he was chosen as the very first chairman of the Mayo County Council. This was a big responsibility, helping to lead the local government in his home county.

At one point, he was a Justice of the Peace. This role meant he helped with local legal matters. However, he was removed from this position in 1899. This happened because he showed support for the Boers during the South African War.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 1900, Conor O'Kelly decided to run for a seat in the Parliament. He was a candidate for the United Irish League. He ran in the area known as North Mayo. He won the election by a large number of votes. He received more than twice as many votes as his opponent. His opponent was an important businessman named William Martin Murphy.

Facing Challenges and Re-election

Conor O'Kelly continued his work as an MP. In 1906, he kept his seat in Parliament without anyone running against him. This showed he had strong support.

He also faced some difficult times. In 1905, he was involved in a situation concerning a farmer and a farm. He and two others were questioned about it. The jury could not agree on a decision, so they were released.

Despite these challenges, he was re-elected in the local government elections in 1908. This happened even though some people, including supporters of a religious group, spoke out against him.

Later Elections and Legacy

In the general election of January 1910, Conor O'Kelly ran for Parliament again. This time, he ran in South Mayo. He was running against the current MP for that area, John O'Donnell. John O'Donnell was part of the All-for-Ireland League. Conor O'Kelly lost this election by 441 votes.

Later that year, in the December election, people thought he might run again. However, he was not chosen as a candidate. This was reportedly because he had disagreements with local religious leaders. Conor O'Kelly passed away in 1915.