Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy has paid tribute to the former Galway Fianna Fáil TD and MEP Mark Killilea who died on New Year’s Day.
Deputy Murphy described the late Mark Killilea as an extremely distinguished politician who had devoted himself of public life and who was a tremendous advocate for the West of Ireland.
First elected to the Seanad in 1969, Mark then took a seat for Fianna Fáil in the Galway East constituency in the 1977 general election. He was co-opted to the European Parliament in 1987.
Mark followed in the footsteps of his father Mark Snr, who was a founding member of Fianna Fáil and a TD for the Galway North constituency.
“Mark was a committed public representative who had a long and distinguished career in National and European politics. He was an extremely proud County Galway man who was passionate about politics and public life,” said Deputy Murphy.
“He also served as a Minister of State in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs for a period and indeed Mark and the late Albert Reynolds worked very well together to revolutionise that sector.
He represented the people of Galway and Ireland at many different levels in a political career that spanned the Seanad, Dáil, Ministerial Office and the European Parliament. Indeed he was very impressive in the European Parliament where he was a great advocate for Agricultural affairs and Rural Development and he was always very vocal in highlighted the plight of rural Ireland in Brussels,” said Deputy Murphy.
“I want to extend my deepest condolences to Mark’s wife Ann and their family,” concluded Deputy Murphy.