Liam Pilkington, known as William Pilkington and Billy Pilkington, was a member of the IRA during the Irish War of Independence.
14 Facts About Liam Pilkington
1.
2.
Liam Pilkington attempted to become a politician for a short while, but was ultimately unsuccessful.
3.
Disillusioned due to the Irish Civil War, Liam Pilkington became a Catholic priest for the remainder of his life.
4.
Liam Pilkington served as a priest in South Africa and Wales before retiring to Liverpool, England, where he died.
5.
Liam Pilkington was the second of twelve children born to the couple.
6.
Liam Pilkington received his education at the local Marist Brothers' convent school and the Day Trades Preparatory School.
7.
Liam Pilkington's troops took over a number of buildings in the town.
8.
On 4 September 1922, an Anti-Treaty IRA unit under Liam Pilkington took the Dromhaire barracks in County Sligo after the Free State garrison surrendered.
9.
On 27 August 1923, Liam Pilkington ran unsuccessfully in the general election for the 4th Dail as a Republican candidate, polling 2089 first preference votes.
10.
Liam Pilkington was a prominent member of the Anti-Treaty IRA for many years, but his most important role as part of the Anti-Treaty IRA came on 20 April 1923.
11.
Liam Pilkington became a Catholic priest after his foray into politics and due to the disillusionment of the Irish War of Independence.
12.
Liam Pilkington joined the Redemptorist Order and became known as Father William Pilkington CSsR.
13.
Liam Pilkington served as a priest in the Diocese of Cape Town, South Africa, priest of Monmouthshire, Wales, and retired to the Redemptorist house at Bishop Eton, Liverpool, where he died in 1977.
14.
Liam Pilkington died on 26 March 1977 and was buried in Liverpool.