Patrick Kelly (Irish politician)
Encyclopedia
Patrick Michael Kelly was an Irish
soldier, farmer and politician. He was a member of the Irish Free State
Oireachtas
(legislature) as a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Clare constituency from 1927 to 1932.
. As a soldier he was a member of the Household Cavalry
, with whom he distinguished himself with honours in the Boer War
. After the war he returned to County Clare to take over the farm at Clonina and eventually to enter political life. Kelly was known as a leader during Ireland’s struggle for independence from Britain in the early 20th century.
He was privately educated at home until 1889, when at the age of 14 he was sent to the Jesuit Mungret College
in Limerick
where he stayed until 1891. He then became a medical student at University College Cork, but clearly retained a bent for adventure. In 1893, at the age of 18, he joined the British Army
to fight in the Boer War in South Africa
. His cousin, General Sir Thomas Kelly-Kenny
, appointed him to the 1st Regiment of Life Guards
for the campaign during the Second Boer War
of 1899–1901. The size of South Africa meant that cavalry
became an invaluable tool for the generals of both sides. Kelly's cavalry unit was very effective and helped win one of their most significant victories of the Boer War at Paardeberg. He had a very successful career in the First Lifeguards and he was Mentioned in Despatches, receiving the Queen's South Africa Medal
with six clasps, for his efforts in the Relief of Kimberley and the battles of Paardeberg, Wittebergen, Driefontein, Diamond Hill and Johannesburg.
In the 1920s he turned his attention to politics becoming a member of the Cumann na nGaedheal party. He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 1923 general election
. At the June 1927 general election, Cumann na nGaedheal performed poorly, winning just 47 seats of the 153 seats. However, Kelly was elected to the 5th Dáil Éireann
, the lower house of the Oireachtas
(legislature) of the Irish Free State
. Kelly, along with Éamon de Valera
, was elected for the Clare constituency. Kelly served until September of that year, as the 5th Dáil is the shortest Dáil in the history of the state, lasting only 98 days. Following victory in two by-elections, the President of the Executive Council
, W. T. Cosgrave called a snap election in September 1927. Cumann na nGaedheal regained most of the ground lost in June, winning 62 seats and 39% of the vote. In the September election for the 6th Dáil which was held on 11 October 1927 Kelly was re-elected. Kelly received 5,647 votes, and de Valera received a massive 13,903 votes and both were elected, based on the proportional representation
system of the Irish Oireachtas. He lost his seat at the 1932 general election
.
In 1934, at the age of 59, he died of pneumonia
and septicaemia
, while he was on the farm. He left his wife, Bridget, and eight children, the youngest of which was just one year old.
His friend Paddy J. Egan of Tullamore, wrote the following glowing appreciation of him in the Mungret Annual in 1935:
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
soldier, farmer and politician. He was a member of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
(legislature) as a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for the Clare constituency from 1927 to 1932.
Biography
He was the eldest son of Tom Bán Kelly and Bridget Davoren and the grandson of the successful landowner, Pat Mór Kelly, and Bridget Gibson from Fortview in County ClareCounty Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
. As a soldier he was a member of the Household Cavalry
Household Cavalry
The term Household Cavalry is used across the Commonwealth to describe the cavalry of the Household Divisions, a country’s most elite or historically senior military groupings or those military groupings that provide functions associated directly with the Head of state.Canada's Governor General's...
, with whom he distinguished himself with honours in the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
. After the war he returned to County Clare to take over the farm at Clonina and eventually to enter political life. Kelly was known as a leader during Ireland’s struggle for independence from Britain in the early 20th century.
He was privately educated at home until 1889, when at the age of 14 he was sent to the Jesuit Mungret College
Mungret College
Mungret College, situated west of Limerick, Ireland, near the village of Mungret, was a Jesuit apostolic school and a lay secondary school from 1882 until 1974 when it closed as a school for the last time. The college produced over 1000 priests in that period...
in Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
where he stayed until 1891. He then became a medical student at University College Cork, but clearly retained a bent for adventure. In 1893, at the age of 18, he joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
to fight in the Boer War in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. His cousin, General Sir Thomas Kelly-Kenny
Thomas Kelly-Kenny
General Sir Thomas Kelly-Kenny GCB GCVO was a British Army general who served in the Second Boer War.-Military career:Kelly-Kenny was born on 27 February 1840 at Doolough Lodge, Treanmanagh near Mullagh in County Clare, Ireland. He was educated as a lay student at St. Patrick's College, Carlow, he...
, appointed him to the 1st Regiment of Life Guards
1st Regiment of Life Guards
The 1st Regiment of Life Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry. It was formed in 1788 by the union of the 1st Troop of Horse Guards and 1st Troop of Horse Grenadier Guards. In 1922, it was amalgamated with the 2nd Regiment of Life Guards to form the Life...
for the campaign during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
of 1899–1901. The size of South Africa meant that cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
became an invaluable tool for the generals of both sides. Kelly's cavalry unit was very effective and helped win one of their most significant victories of the Boer War at Paardeberg. He had a very successful career in the First Lifeguards and he was Mentioned in Despatches, receiving the Queen's South Africa Medal
Queen's South Africa Medal
The Queen's South Africa Medal was awarded to military personnel who served in the Boer War in South Africa between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902. Units from the British Army, Royal Navy, colonial forces who took part , civilians employed in official capacity and war correspondents...
with six clasps, for his efforts in the Relief of Kimberley and the battles of Paardeberg, Wittebergen, Driefontein, Diamond Hill and Johannesburg.
In the 1920s he turned his attention to politics becoming a member of the Cumann na nGaedheal party. He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 1923 general election
Irish general election, 1923
The Irish general election of 1923 was held on 27 August 1923. The newly elected members of the 4th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 19 September when the new President of the Executive Council and Executive Council of the Irish Free State were appointed. The election was held just after the end...
. At the June 1927 general election, Cumann na nGaedheal performed poorly, winning just 47 seats of the 153 seats. However, Kelly was elected to the 5th Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
, the lower house of the Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
(legislature) of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
. Kelly, along with Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
, was elected for the Clare constituency. Kelly served until September of that year, as the 5th Dáil is the shortest Dáil in the history of the state, lasting only 98 days. Following victory in two by-elections, the President of the Executive Council
President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State
The President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State was the head of government or prime minister of the Irish Free State which existed from 1922 to 1937...
, W. T. Cosgrave called a snap election in September 1927. Cumann na nGaedheal regained most of the ground lost in June, winning 62 seats and 39% of the vote. In the September election for the 6th Dáil which was held on 11 October 1927 Kelly was re-elected. Kelly received 5,647 votes, and de Valera received a massive 13,903 votes and both were elected, based on the proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
system of the Irish Oireachtas. He lost his seat at the 1932 general election
Irish general election, 1932
The Irish general election of 1932 was held on 16 February 1932, just over two weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 29 January. The newly elected 153 members of the 7th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 9 March 1932 when the new President of the Executive Council and Executive Council of...
.
In 1934, at the age of 59, he died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and septicaemia
Sepsis
Sepsis is a potentially deadly medical condition that is characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state and the presence of a known or suspected infection. The body may develop this inflammatory response by the immune system to microbes in the blood, urine, lungs, skin, or other tissues...
, while he was on the farm. He left his wife, Bridget, and eight children, the youngest of which was just one year old.
His friend Paddy J. Egan of Tullamore, wrote the following glowing appreciation of him in the Mungret Annual in 1935:
"I remember Pat Kelly very well at Mungret. He was one of the personalities amongst the Lay Boys of the College about 1890. A bright, breezy, and always cheerful lad, very original and liked by all of us, he was one of the few chaps the mention of whose name provoked smiles of affection in all directions. I would not describe him as a worshipper at the shrine of discipline; in fact, I know that he held somewhat elastic views when he came to interpret rules and regulations. Apart from his likeable disposition, this certainly did contribute something to his popularity. Most of us did not have either his initiative or courage in this respect... I gather that he was personally as popular in the Dáil as he was in Mungret years ago. It was with a keen sense of regret that I heard of his death".