Edmond Kelly


Canon Edmond Kelly was an Irish Catholic priest who served as a military chaplain with the British Army during the First World War. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1917 for gallantry during the Battle of Passchendaele near Ypres. After the war, he returned to parish work in County Tipperary and served as Parish Priest of Killenaule and Moyglass from 1934 until his death in 1955.

Early life and education

Edmund Kelly was born on 8 June 1874 in Newtown, New Inn, County Tipperary, Ireland. He was the eldest of five children born to John Kelly, a farmer, and Bridget Kelly . He is a second cousin to the Australian bushranger Ned Kelly.
Edmond Kelly received his early education locally before attending Rockwell College. He later studied at St Patrick's College, Thurles and then at St Patrick's College, Maynooth.
On 1 September 1897, he matriculated to Maynooth College to study for the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly.

Priesthood

Ordination and early ministry

Edmond Kelly was ordained to the priesthood on 17 June 1900 at St Patrick's College, Maynooth. Following his ordination, he served as a missionary in South Africa from 1900 to 1911. Upon returning to Ireland in 1911, he was appointed as a curate at Mullinahone in County Tipperary, where he served until 1915.

Military chaplaincy

In 1915, Edmond Kelly volunteered for military service and was commissioned as a chaplain in the Army Chaplains' Department. He served on the Western Front, particularly in the Ypres Salient.

Military Cross

On 16 August 1917, Edmond Kelly was awarded the Military Cross for tending the wounded under heavy fire. The award was published in the London Gazette in March 1918.

Post-war ministry

After the Armistice, Kelly remained with the army until 1920 before returning to parish duties in Ireland. In 1922, he was appointed curate at Tipperary, where he served for twelve years. In 1934, he became Parish Priest of Killenaule and Moyglass. He then initiated and led the construction of several schools in the County of Tipperary, such as St Catherine's Greystown and St Maal's Ballimonty in 1948
During his tenure at Killenaule, Edmond Kelly oversaw improvements to St Mary's Church, including a window designed by Harry Clarke dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. In 1939, he discovered old parish registers dating from 1743 to 1801 and arranged for their restoration.

Death

Canon Edmond Kelly died on 11 October 1955 in Dublin, aged 81. His funeral took place on 13 October 1955 at St Mary's Church in Killenaule, where he is buried.

Legacy

The Very Reverend Canon Edmond Kelly's Military Cross and other personal effects were later acquired by Tipperary Studies, the historical conservation and archives department within Tipperary County Council. In 2017, during National Heritage Week, an exhibition featuring his Military Cross was held at The Source in Thurles. Again in 2018, a special conference and exhibition were organised by Tipperary Studies.

Honours