Seán Kelly (Kerry Gaelic footballer)

Seán Kelly
Personal information
Native name
Seán Ó Ceallaigh (Irish)
Born1925
Died10 August 2012 (aged 87)
OccupationCivil servant
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Sport
SportGaelic football
PositionFull-forward
Club
Years Club
Kilcummin
Civil Service
Club titles
Kerry titles 0
Inter-county
Years County Apps (scores)
1952-1954
Kerry 10 (4-13)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 2
All-Irelands 1
NFL 0

Seán Kelly (1925 – 10 August 2012), also known as Seán Ó Ceallaigh, was an Irish Gaelic footballer who played at club level with Kilcummin and at inter-county level with the Kerry senior football team. He usually lined out as a forward.

Career

Kelly first came to prominence as a Gaelic footballer with St. Brendan's College in the Munster Colleges Championship, before later lining out at club level with Kilcummin and the Civil Service club in Dublin.[1] His inter-county career began as a 27-year-old when he was first selected for the Kerry senior football team in 1952. Kelly won his only All-Ireland Championship title after lining out at full-forward in a defeat of Armagh in 1953. His other honours include two Munster Championship titles and inclusion on the Munster team for the Railway Cup.[2][3]

Personal life and death

Born and raised in Kilcummin, County Kerry, Kelly moved to Dublin to work as a civil servant at the age of 18. Living in Clontarf, he later became Secretary-General of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.[4] Kelly married Eileen O'Hanrahan and they had seven children. His daughter, Fionnuala, married Enda Kenny who served as Taoiseach from 2011 until 2016.[5] His nephew, also Seán Kelly, has served as a Member of the European Parliament.[6]

Kelly died after a brief illness at the Bon Secours Hospital in Glasnevin on 10 August 2012.

Honours

Kerry

References

  1. ^ Kelly, Seán (8 February 2019). "'Winning the All-Ireland would be the greatest day in Kilcummin's history' - Former GAA President Sean Kelly". The Irish News. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Senior Football". Munster GAA website. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Railway Cup Football". Munster GAA website. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  4. ^ Kelly, Seán (16 October 2012). "Kilcummin loses one of its greatest sons". Irish Independent. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Taoiseach's family bid sad farewell to 'humble' father-in-law". Irish Independent. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Seán Ó Ceallaigh". Hogan Stand. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2021.