Draft:Canon Edmund Kelly
Canon Edmund Kelly MC PP VF (June 1874 - 11 October 1955) was an Irish Catholic priest who served as a British Army chaplain during Ireland's involvement in the First World War. He was awarded the Military Cross in recognition of his "exemplary gallantry" as an officer on the battlefield, which he received in 1917 in Ypres. Later in his ecclesiastic service, he was appointed Parish Priest governing the Killenaule and Moyglass Parish.
Early Life
[edit]Edmund Kelly was born in June 1874 in Newtown, New Inn, County Tipperary, in Ireland. He was the eldest of five children of John Kelly (farmer) and Bridget Grady. He was baptised on 8 June 1874 in Tullamaine.[1]
He was a second cousin of reknown Australian bushranger Ned Kelly.[2]
Edmund Kelly studied in Rockwell College, St Patrick's Thurles and St Patrick's College Maynooth.[3]
Priesthood
[edit]On 1 September 1897, Edmundus Kelly was matriculated to Maynooth College for the Diocese of Cashel. He was part of the 1898-1899 class where he studied Theology. On 17 June 1900, he was ordained to priesthood.[4][5]
He was then sent as a temporary Missionnary to South Africa for various labour work from July 1900 to May 1911.[6][7] Later in 1911, Father Kelly was recalled to his home diocese and served as curate in Mullaghahone until 1915. The original St. Michael's Church which existed from 1839 to 1969 was where he officiated.[8]
Army Catholic Chaplain
[edit]As a Catholic (or Jesuit) Army Chaplain, he was noticed for his remarkable devotion.[9][10][11][12][13][14]
A significantly long period at the front which is documented in several reputable references et publications.
Death
- ^ Ireland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms. National Library of Ireland (NLI). pp. Record 8204818.
- ^ Cobb, Glen Rowen. "Descendants Of John Kelly".
- ^ "Death of Killenaule's P.P. Very Rev. Edmond Canon Kelly". The Tipperary Star. Vol. 49 (42 ed.). October 15, 1955. p. 1.
- ^ "Clericus 38437 Edmund Kelly". clericus.ie. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ "Clericus 32523 Edmund Kelly". clericus.ie. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ Kelly, Joe. "Kellys in Religion". www.kellyclanireland.com. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ "Tipperary Chaplain Awarded the Military Cross" (PDF). Clonmel Chronicle. October 27, 1917.
- ^ "Saint Michael's Catholic Church, Callan Street, MULLINAHONE, Mullinahone, TIPPERARY SOUTH". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ O'Grady, Anne. "Military Cross awarded to Tipperary man on display during heritage week". www.tipperarylive.ie. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ "Fr Kelly Military Cross – Tipperary Studies". 2018-11-15. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ "Witnesses – Bureau of Military History". Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ "Life story: Edmund Kelly | Lives of the First World War". livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
- ^ "Tipp Today Highlights – The Tipp Priest Who Served In WWI". TippFM. October 15, 2018.
- ^ Burke, Damien (2015). "Irish Jesuit Chaplains in the First World War". Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review. 104 (414): 167–175. ISSN 0039-3495.
- ^ Tipperary Studies (Tipperary City Council). "Killenaule: St. Mary's churchyard" (PDF).
- ^ "St. Mary's Church Killenaule | Historic Graves". historicgraves.com. Retrieved 2023-05-27.