Tom Kelly (Ireland)
Encyclopedia
Tom Kelly, OBE is a media commentator, businessman and former Vice Chairman of the Social Democratic and Labour Party
in Northern Ireland
. The grandson of the IRA
War of Independence veteran and Irish Labour activist Tom Kelly, he attended the Abbey Grammar School in Newry
followed by the University of Ulster
.
He was assistant to the former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and MP
for Newry and Armagh
, Seamus Mallon
. With the backing of the United States
based National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
Kelly set up the Social Democratic Group on behalf of the SDLP. Kelly was the communications director in most of the key SDLP electoral campaigns until 2001. In 1994 he moved into public relations fronting a Belfast office for Dublin based PR company Drury Communications. He subsequently bought that company out and renamed it Stakeholder Communications(www.stakeholdermedia.com) which now operates out of London, Dublin and Newry as well as Belfast. In 2001 he was appointed by the British
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
to serve on the first Northern Ireland Policing Board
. In 2002 he won the prestigious PRCA Award for the best Corporate Communications Campaign. Kelly is heavily involved in the Credit Union
movement of Ireland
. He served as Chairman of Newry Credit Union Ltd and headed an all Ireland campaign for a taxation exemption for credit union members. He was the first Chairman of Newry City Centre Management Partnership having jointly led the campaign for city status with Newry and Mourne District Council and Newry Chamber of Commerce. Kelly was also a former Chairman of Down Club- Cumann Naomh Eoin Bosco GFC.
He is a regular media contributor to political affairs programmes and has a weekly column in the leading morning nationalist
paper in Northern Ireland, the Irish News. Kelly is a Visiting Professor at the University of Ulster's School of Communication. In 2005 he was named as one of the top 50 most influential Irishmen in Great Britain. In 2006 he accepted an OBE
.
2011 Kelly was appointed Chairman of Square Up Media in London and serves as Hon.Consul for Malta in NI. He is also a business partner of HRH Prince Faisal Bin Turki.
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. The grandson of the IRA
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
War of Independence veteran and Irish Labour activist Tom Kelly, he attended the Abbey Grammar School in Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
followed by the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
.
He was assistant to the former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Newry and Armagh
Newry and Armagh
Newry and Armagh can refer to:*Newry and Armagh *Newry and Armagh...
, Seamus Mallon
Seamus Mallon
Seamus Frederick Mallon born 17 August 1936, in Markethill, County Armagh, is an Irish politician and former Deputy Leader of the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland...
. With the backing of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
based National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs is an organization created by the United States government by way of the National Endowment for Democracy to channel grants for furthering democracy in developing nations. It was founded in 1983, shortly after the U.S. Congress created...
Kelly set up the Social Democratic Group on behalf of the SDLP. Kelly was the communications director in most of the key SDLP electoral campaigns until 2001. In 1994 he moved into public relations fronting a Belfast office for Dublin based PR company Drury Communications. He subsequently bought that company out and renamed it Stakeholder Communications(www.stakeholdermedia.com) which now operates out of London, Dublin and Newry as well as Belfast. In 2001 he was appointed by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
to serve on the first Northern Ireland Policing Board
Northern Ireland Policing Board
The Northern Ireland Policing Board is the police authority for Northern Ireland, charged with supervising the activities of the Police Service of Northern Ireland...
. In 2002 he won the prestigious PRCA Award for the best Corporate Communications Campaign. Kelly is heavily involved in the Credit Union
Credit union
A credit union is a cooperative financial institution that is owned and controlled by its members and operated for the purpose of promoting thrift, providing credit at competitive rates, and providing other financial services to its members...
movement of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He served as Chairman of Newry Credit Union Ltd and headed an all Ireland campaign for a taxation exemption for credit union members. He was the first Chairman of Newry City Centre Management Partnership having jointly led the campaign for city status with Newry and Mourne District Council and Newry Chamber of Commerce. Kelly was also a former Chairman of Down Club- Cumann Naomh Eoin Bosco GFC.
He is a regular media contributor to political affairs programmes and has a weekly column in the leading morning nationalist
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
paper in Northern Ireland, the Irish News. Kelly is a Visiting Professor at the University of Ulster's School of Communication. In 2005 he was named as one of the top 50 most influential Irishmen in Great Britain. In 2006 he accepted an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
2011 Kelly was appointed Chairman of Square Up Media in London and serves as Hon.Consul for Malta in NI. He is also a business partner of HRH Prince Faisal Bin Turki.