Canon Edmund Kelly, MC: Tipperary’s War Hero and Parish Builder
By Yann Blake
I) A Military Cross Medal, a Wikipedia Page, and a Life Worth Remembering
The Military Cross awarded to Very Reverend Canon Edmond Kelly resides in permanent display at The Source in Thurles, acquired by Tipperary Studies along with his personal effects. This medal represents “conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty” during one of the worst battles in human history—the Third Battle of Ypres in August 1917.
In 2025, Wikipedia approved an article about Fr Edmond Kelly that met their notoriously strict notability criteria. This approval is significant because Wikipedia does not grant articles to local historical figures without multiple reliable, independent published sources demonstrating clear notability beyond regional interest. Kelly’s Military Cross citation appeared in the London Gazette on 7 March 1918. His obituary ran in multiple newspapers. Historians wrote about him. Archives preserved his letters and records.
The timing of this article coincides with recent Armistice Day commemorations. Kelly survived the trenches of Ypres when roughly 325,000 Allied soldiers died in the Third Battle of Ypres alone. He returned home and built schools across County Tipperary. He rescued parish registers dating to 1743 from a mouldering outhouse. He commissioned Harry Clarke windows for St Mary’s Church in Killenaule.
As a footnote to this distinguished career, Kelly was Ned Kelly’s second cousin—a genealogical connection that has been extensively documented through parish records and family research.
This article presents what the documentary evidence actually reveals about Canon Edmund Kelly’s life and work.
II) Birth and Early Years: Newtown, New Inn (1874-1897)
Edmund Kelly was born on 8 June 1874 at Newtown, New Inn, County Tipperary. The civil birth record confirms this date. He was baptized the same day at New Inn and Knockgraffon parish—godfather John Grady, godmother Margaret O’Donnell. His parents were John Kelly (born 1828) and Bridget Grady (born 1839).
John Kelly farmed at Newtown. The 1890 civil death record lists his age as 62 when he died on 9 November 1890. Edmund was 16 years old. His mother Bridget died on 16 December 1901 at age 62 from cardiac disease and broncho-pneumonia. Her son James registered the death on 7 March 1902 as “informant.”
Edmund had four siblings: Catherine (‘Kate’), born 31 January 1876 who married Fitzgerald; James (‘Jim’), born 5 February 1878 who took over the Newtown New Inn family farm; Anne, born 1 April 1880 who married Quirke; Jeremiah, born 27 February 1883 who later moved to Ballingeary.
The Newtown Kelly Farm still stands. Photographic documentation shows the old and small ancestral house (next to a more recent family house) where Canon Kelly lived “in a very simple way” at the end of his life, even after the rest of the family had moved to a more modern house nearby.
Edmund attended Rockwell College, a prestigious school ran by the Holy Ghost Fathers. He then studied at St Patrick’s College, Thurles before matriculating to St Patrick’s College, Maynooth on 1 September 1897 for the Diocese of Cashel. The Clericus database confirms his matriculation into Theology 2 on that date.
A class photograph from 1898-99 shows “Edmundus Kelly” among his fellow seminarians at Maynooth. The Latin form of his name appears in the college registers.
III) Ordination and South Africa (1900-1911)
Edmond Kelly was ordained to the priesthood on 17 June 1900 at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. The ordination record (Clericus.ie reference 38437) lists him as “Edmond Kelly” and notes he was ordained alongside 60 other individuals. St Patrick’s College Maynooth registers preserve this record.
Immediately following ordination, Kelly departed for South Africa as a temporary missionary. The records state “between July 1900 and May 1911” for this assignment—eleven years on the missions.
In May 1911, Fr Edond Kelly was recalled to the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. He was appointed curate at St Michael’s Church in Mullinahone, barony of Slievardagh. Kelly served there from 1911 to 1915.
IV) The Great War: Army Chaplain (1915-1920)
In 1915, Fr Edmond Kelly volunteered as a military chaplain. He joined the Army Chaplains’ Department, an all-officer department providing ordained clergy to the British Army. Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until 1922, thus Irish priests served as British Army chaplains.
Fr Edmond Kelly was assigned to the Eastern Front at Ypres in West Flanders, Belgium. Records specify the 8th Royal Irish Fusiliers and the 7th Battalion. A photograph from 1916 shows “Fr E. Kelly in 1916 as a WWI Officer” in his military chaplain’s uniform—dark tunic with collar insignia, Sam Browne belt.
The Second Battle of Ypres (22 April – 25 May 1915) witnessed Germany’s first mass use of poison gas on the Western Front. Kelly arrived during this period. The Third Battle of Ypres (Battle of Passchendaele) extended from July to November 1917.
V) Major Willie Redmond’s Death
On 10 June 1917, Kelly wrote a detailed letter from “B.E. Force C/o G.P.O.” to Right Rev. Monsignor Ryan in Tipperary. The letter describes the death of Major Willie Redmond, MP, founder of the 16th Irish Division.
Fr Edmond Kelly and Fr Redmond shared quarters in the cellar beneath a hospice chapel for three nights before the battle. Redmond “felt absolutely miserable at the prospect of being left behind” and lobbied the General persistently for permission to advance with his men. Upon receiving approval, Redmond “was simply bubbling over with joy.”
“Won’t it be glorious to breast the sandbags with Old George Robey and all the boys!” Redmond exclaimed while fastening his equipment in Father O’Connell’s room.
At 3:10 a.m. on 7 June 1917, the mines detonated. Redmond went over the top “the first man in the Division to face what to us looked something like an overflow of hell itself.” He fell wounded in the leg and wrist. Stretcher-bearers from the Ulster Division located him on the battlefield and transported him to their aid post, then to Field Ambulance. He died there.
Fr Edmond Kelly wrote: “They brought him to their aid post and thence to the Field Ambulance, and there he died. He received every possible kindness from these Ulster soldiers. In fact, an Englishman connected with the Ulster Division expressed astonishment at the extreme care which was taken of the poor Major—though no Irish soldier expected anything else, for, after all, the Ulster men are Irish too.”
Redmond’s body was prepared in the Convent chapel and buried on the evening of 8 June near the grotto in the nuns’ garden.
Fr Kelly’s letter terminates mid-sentence: “On the eve of the battle I asked him to speak to one of my battalions, and Colonel A—[… the transcript continues further]”
This letter survives in the archival record with notation identifying the author as “FATHER EDMUND KELLY, 7/8 Royal Irish Fusiliers.”
VI) The Military Cross
On 16 August 1917, Fr Edmond Kelly earned the Military Cross east of Ypres. The official citation reads: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in tending the wounded and dying of all denominations under the heaviest shell fire.”
The London Gazette published the award on 7 March 1918 (Gazette number 30564, page 2921). Multiple newspaper articles documented the medal: Clonmel Chronicle, 27 October 1917: “Tipperary Chaplain Awarded the Military Cross” as well as various press accounts preserved in archival collections and digital databases.
The actual Military Cross medal is now held by Tipperary Studies. High-definition photography shows the silver cross with the royal cypher “GRI” (Georgius Rex Imperator—George, King and Emperor). The medal hangs from a white ribbon with purple stripes.
VII) Return to Tipperary: Curate and Parish Priest (1920-1955)
Fr Edmond Kelly returned to Ireland where he was re-appointed curate at Mullinahone briefly, then transferred to Tipperary Town in 1922 as curate at St Michael’s Roman Catholic Church. He remained there for twelve years.
In 1934, Fr Edmond Kelly became Parish Priest of Cappawhite. Records indicate this was a brief appointment—he transferred to Killenaule and Moyglass in 1937 as Parish Priest, where he served until his death in 1955.
VIII) School Construction (1940s)
Fr Edmond Kelly initiated and oversaw construction of multiple national schools across County Tipperary. Press articles from 4 October 1948 document the opening of “several new schools in Tipperary” with Kelly present.
Specific schools attributed to his leadership include St Catherine’s, Greystown (opened 1948) and St Maal’s, Ballimonty (opened 1948).
A press article from 1955 states: “In Killenaule parish he was responsible for the building of several new national schools—buildings that could be taken as a headline for any parish in the country. They stand as monuments to his initiative and energy.”
On 3 October 1946, Kelly assisted at the opening of the new Patrician High School in Fethard. Archbishop Kinnane blessed the school, assisted by Rev. Canon Ryan (PP of Fethard) and Kelly. The Fethard Patrician School records preserve documentation of this event.
Kelly also served on the South Tipperary Vocational Education Committee. His 1955 obituary notes: “As a member of the South Tipperary Committee he was one of the most alert and painstaking representatives that committee ever had, and his wisdom and experience will be sadly missed therefrom.”
IX) Parish Register Restoration (1939)
In 1939, Kelly discovered old parochial registers in “a mouldering condition” in an outhouse at the parochial premises in Killenaule. The registers covered 1743 to 1801—dealing with what are now the parishes of Killenaule and Moyglass.
Kathleen Fanning’s family history records: “Fr. Kelly P.P. of Killenaule has had it bound and restored as far as possible. It is probably the oldest catholic register in the Archdiocese; such documents have rarely survived.”
The restored registers (Microfilm 02494/01 at the National Library of Ireland) credit “Edmundus Kelly” for the restoration work. Photographic documentation shows the cover and Kelly’s credits on the records.
X) Church Restoration and Harry Clarke Window
Kelly oversaw improvements to St Mary’s Church in Killenaule. Most notably, he commissioned a window from Harry Clarke Studios dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The 1937 publication notes: “The window over the main entrance is dedicated to the Asssumption of B.V.M. and was erected by Canon Kelly.”
Harry Clarke (1889-1931) was Ireland’s most celebrated stained glass artist. The Killenaule window demonstrates Clarke’s characteristic jewel-like colors and intricate detail. Photographic documentation in archival holdings shows the full window and detail views.
The church pulpit was carved by William Pearse, one of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic—Patrick Pearse’s brother.
XI) Titles and Honors
Kelly held multiple ecclesiastical titles:
Very Reverend (V.R.)
In the Catholic Church, this style is given by custom to priests who hold positions of particular note: vicars general, judicial vicars, vicars forane (deans), rectors of seminaries or colleges, canons, etc.
Canon
From the Latin “canonicus”—a member of certain bodies subject to ecclesiastical rule. Canons are members of the chapter of a cathedral or collegiate church. The title is not permanent; when no longer in a qualifying position, it is usually dropped from nomenclature. However, many dioceses confer it upon senior parish priests as a largely honorary title in recognition of long service. Honorary canons are members of the chapter in name but non-residential and receive no emoluments.
Kelly’s name often appears as “Very Rev. Edmund Canon Kelly, P.P., V.F.” where:
- P.P. = Parish Priest (custodian of parish records, charged with parish government)
- V.F. = Vicar Forane (an experienced priest appointed by a bishop to exercise limited jurisdiction over a specific part of a diocese and oversee priests in that area; also called rural dean or archpriest)
The Tipperary Star of 9 June 1951 (page 1) cites “Rev. Kelly as the new Vicar Forane.”
XII) The Family Connections
The Ned Kelly Connection
Edmund Kelly was second cousin to Edward “Ned” Kelly (1854-1880), the Australian bushranger executed in Melbourne. The Tipperary Star ran an article in April 1967 (Vol. 77, No. 14, page 1) titled “Famed Bushranger’s Descendants from Tipp.”
The genealogical connection traces through the Kelly families of Moyglass and New Inn. Family tree documentation shows:
Fr. Michael Kelly, P.P. (1735-1805)
Born in Moyglass, probably Curraghtarsna. Served as curate in Killenaule for approximately six months in 1764. Parish Priest of Cloneen and Killusty from at least 1792 until his death on 16 October 1805, aged 70. Buried in the old cemetery of Cloneen.
A 1937 publication states: “He was great-grand uncle of Canon Edmond Kelly, P.P. Killenaule 1937-55.”
The Kelly families farmed at Newtown and Moyglass. Parish baptism records from 1764 show “Mich Kelly” signatures. The 1766 Religious Census lists “MICH KELLY GARAN-KILE – CLONEEN” (Parliamentary Return 690, 1766 Religious Census, Fethard Union – NAI IHP/1/690).
Personal Effects and Character
These items of Fr Edmond Kelly still survive to this day:
Glasses with Personal Case
Spectacles with ivory nose pads in “perfect condition” with the inscription “Rev. Edmund Kelly.”
Pocket Watch
Canon Kelly’s pocket watch, preserved in private collections.
Photographs
Multiple photographs spanning 1916 (WWI officer uniform) to the 1950s.
His 1955 obituary describes Kelly’s character: “As a man, Canon Kelly was a grand character, straight in every sense of the word—highly efficient and brooking no slovenliness. Yet he was kindly, hospitable and generous, and was blessed with a great sense of humour. Befitting one who had seen so much of human misery on the battlefields of World War I, he was particularly attentive to the sick and stricken.”
The obituary notes he lived “in a very simple way” at the old Newtown New Inn house at the end of his life, even though the rest of the family had moved to a newer, larger house adjacent to it.
XIII) Death and Burial (October 1955)
Canon Edmond Kelly died on 11 October 1955 at a Dublin hospital (later identified as St John of God University Hospital, Stillorgan). He was 81 years old.
His funeral took place on 13 October 1955 at St Mary’s Church, Killenaule. The Solemn Office and Requiem High Mass were celebrated by Rev. T. Morris, D.D., of St Patrick’s College. Approximately one hundred priests attended. The obituary notes “an overflow congregation of parishioners, relatives and friends.”
Fr Edmond Kelly was buried at St Mary’s Church, Killenaule. His grave appears in the graveyard records (Excerpt from Grave list “K”). Photographic documentation shows the gravestone and plot location.
The Irish Independent of 12 October 1955 (page 1) published his obituary under “Death of Killenaule’s P.P. Very Rev. Edmond Canon Kelly.” The Tipperary Star published an extensive obituary on 15 October 1955 (Vol. 49, No. 42).
His memorial card lists his clerical ordination date, military service, parishes served, and awards. A remembrance prayer requests: “O God, who didst raise Thy servant Edmund to the dignity of priest in the apostolic priesthood; grant, we beseech Thee, that he may be joined in fellowship with Thine apostles for evermore.”
Survivors at the time of his death in 1955 included: his brother Jeremiah Kelly of Ballingeary, Cahir and numerous nieces and nephews, including Mrs. J.J. O’Connor (wife of solicitor J.J. O’Connor) of Thurles; Mrs. John Crean of Thurles; and the Fitzgerald, Kelly, and Quirke families
His sister Catherine (‘Kate’) Fitzgerald died 19 March 1948 of myocarditis and chronic bronchitis. His brother James (‘Jim’) Kelly died 2 April 1947 of chronic bronchitis—both buried at the family grave in New Inn. His sister Anne Quirke died 11 November 1918 in Ashgrove, Bansha. His brother Jeremiah survived until 1960.
XIV) Legacy and Modern Recognition (2016-Present)
The Auction and Acquisition (2016)
In September 2016, Fonsie Mealy auctioned Kelly’s Military Cross.Tipperary Studies purchased the medal in order to preserve it in the best conditions. The medal joined Tipperary Studies’ permanent collection at Tipperary Libraries in Thurles, where it remains on public display.
Heritage Week Exhibition (2017)
On 21 August 2017, Tipperary Studies mounted an exhibition during National Heritage Week at The Source, Thurles. The event description stated:
“The Military Cross medal awarded to Fr Edmond Kelly, native of New Inn, for ‘conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty’ on 16 August 1917, East of Ypres is going on display at 6.30pm. Fr. Kelly, volunteered for service as army chaplain during WW1, continuing until 1920 after which he returned to pastoral duties. He became PP in Killenaule in 1937 and was buried there in 1955.”
The Nenagh Guardian (19 August 2017, page 11) covered the exhibition. Exhibition posters show the medal and provide biographical summary. Photographic documentation from the exhibition shows the medal mounted in a display case with interpretive text.
Parish Exhibition (2018)
On 24 February 2018, St Mary’s Church in Killenaule mounted an exhibition: “Canon Kelly Exhibition – Former PP of Killenaule & Moyglass – recipient of Military Cross for Service in World War I is now on display at the back of the Church.”
Academic Lecture (2018)
In October 2018, Tipperary Studies organized a lecture by Barbara McCormack from Maynooth University as part of the “Tipperary People and Places” series.
The lecture title: “The Tipp Priest Who Served In WWI”
Tipp FM Radio covered the event. A podcast titled “Tipp Today Highlights – The Tipp Priest Who Served In WWI” aired on Tipp FM and remains available on Soundcloud. McCormack discussed Kelly’s volunteer chaplaincy, his survival through WWI’s worst battles, and his return to Tipperary.
Articles covering the lecture include Tipperary Live, 5 October 2018 ; Tipp FM, 15 October 2018 ; Tipperary Live, 11 October 2018
Maynooth Exhibition (2018)
In April 2018, the Russell Library at Maynooth mounted an exhibition on “Maynooth College Chaplains” which featured Fr. Edmund Kelly (though not exclusively dedicated to him).
Wikipedia Article (2025)
In 2025, Wikipedia approved an article on “Edmond Kelly” that satisfied their notability guidelines. Wikipedia’s criteria require:
- Multiple reliable, published secondary sources independent of the subject
- Significant coverage (not merely trivial mentions)
- Presumed notability for recipients of significant military awards
The article cites:
- London Gazette (official government publication)
- Newspaper obituaries (Irish Independent, Tipperary Star, Clonmel Chronicle)
- Academic sources (John Martin Brennan’s book on Irish chaplains, Studies journal article)
- Archival databases (Clericus.ie, National Library of Ireland registers)
- Local history publications (Tipperary Studies materials)
The Wikipedia article comprises approximately 2,000 words with 20 citations. It includes sections on early life, priesthood, military service, the Military Cross, post-war ministry, death, and legacy.
R) Sources and Archival References
This article draws entirely from:
- Civil birth, marriage, and death records (General Register Office, Ireland)
- Catholic parish registers (National Library of Ireland, microfilm collections)
- Maynooth College records (Clericus.ie database)
- London Gazette, 7 March 1918
- Family tree documentation (Ultimate Genealogy system)
- Newspaper archives (Irish Newspaper Archives, Tipperary Star, Irish Independent, Clonmel Chronicle, Nenagh Guardian, Tipperary Live)
- Tipperary Studies collection and exhibition materials
- Archival photographic documentation
- Fanning Family History (Kathleen Fanning)
- Published books: “The Book of the Seventh Service Battalion the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers” by C.A. Cooper Walker (1920); “Irish Catholic Chaplains in the First World War” by John Martin Brennan
- Archivium Hibernicum articles on Archbishop Butler’s visitations
- Wikipedia article “Edmond Kelly” (approved 2025)
All photographs, documents, and records cited are preserved in either Tipperary Studies, archival holdings, the National Library of Ireland, or public domain government publications.