Kelly Family Military History

[Joey Kelly]

The Kelly Family Military History. Began in 1914 When Grandfather John Born in Ballina Co Mayo in 1874, Joined the 1st Battalion Connaught Rangers. He served in India, Ypres and other places 1914-1918. He attained the Rank of Colour Sgt, in 1918 he joined the Irish Rifles and attained the Rank of WO 2. He then joined the Irish Army and served during the Emergency and on into attaining his 21 year Service Medal, his service was with the Military Police throughout this term. He lived in the Curragh
His Youngest Son Patrick know to all as Joe (Cadbury's Chocolate) was born in the Families Hospital The Curragh on 17th March 1924, He joined the Army during the Emergency and served throughout the 42 years mainly in the Military College reaching the rank of BSM.
Joe's six sons, Joey, Johnny, Martin, Butch, Sharkey, and Paul all served in the Army reaching various ranks, all completed their 21 years with Butch and Paul still in service to date.
Joeys son Damien is a Sgt with 62 Reserve and still serving.

So there you have four generations of Kelly Service to the state.

Incidentally I have all My Grandfathers and My fathers medals, and along with my own there is a good collection. My son Damien will inherit those and along with his medals will add to the collection, and with a bit of luck some of his three sons will possibly join up.

Regards to all
Joey

[Louis Parminter]

Hi Joey,
I enjoyed reading your family military history. A great collection of medals to be sure. I have both my parents and a great grandfathers from the Boar War (Ladysmith), but regretfully do not have my grandfathers 1914-1918 set. I must try to look up his service record at Kew in the U.K. I have other 'mementos such as the metal plaque issued in remembrance of my great gradfather who died in the sinking of the Arcadia and a brass coloured cigarette box (still containing cigarettes) issued to the troops in France1914/1918, amongst other things.
The Kelly's, including your good self I of course remember very well. A great family and your Dad was an institution himself in the Military College.

[Matt McNamara]

Hi Joey

That was an interesting read and a proud military background. We have a lot more in common than we ever knew with our Grandfathers in the Connaught Rangers, perhaps they knew each other. Well we will never know. My father served with your father in the Military College for years and I remember him well. As you may remember I was in Lourdes with my mother when you father fell ill over there, a proud soldier on a military pilgrimage, God Rest Him.

Regards

Matt

[kellquinn]

Hi Matt and Lou,
Many thanks for the compliments, it always amazes me how much the Curragh people and indeed the people of other Counties have in common when it comes to Military Service. Matt I knew your dad a gentleman and a lovely person. It was indeed a sad occasion when Joe took ill in Lourdes and his passing still hurts. Keep your head down and pass our regards to your mam.
Regards
Joey

[andybrennan]

Hi Joey I enjoyed that nice of you to share it
Regards Andy

[mikeyk1]

hi my name is mikey kelly me and my cousin chrisy kelly join the army last year.im butchs son and chrisy is pauls so dat makes us the fifth generation chrisy is in the cav and im in the 3 battalion i am very proud of my family history hopefully there will be many more kellys to join in years to come

[afcmoore]

Hi Mikey.
Just curious can you name any of the Kelly's in your family history in the 50s & 60s.I knew two chaps with the Kelly name who were stationed at Plunkett ?,Just a shot in the dark.
Cheers
Anthony.

[kellquinn]

Hi to all
AFC in reply to your query re- Kelly's 50s and 60s, Mikey is a nephew of mine and indeed is now fifth generation of the clan. The only Kelly's that I can remember from Plunkett was Mattie Kelly and Tommy Kelly. Hope this is of info to you. Hi there Mikey welcome on board!.

Regards to all

Joey

[kellquinn]

Me again.
Matt My Grandfathers Service number in the Connaught Rangers was 4744 is that near your Grandfathers?. An extract from his diary states, that he sailed for Madros on the SS Grampian on 15th Sept1915 and landed on 24th Sept 1915 and from Madros to Southampton on the SS Aquatinia arriving on the 27th 0ct 1915 from there he then went by train to Liverpool, where he was taken to Sherlock St Hospital and from there discharged on the 9 Nov 1915 Wonder was he injured? as it does not state.
Regards to all

Joey

[afcmoore]

Hi Joey.
Yes that was the two gentlemen that i knew during my time at Plunkett.Tommy i went to dances in the Irish Club in Parnell Square Dublin.Matt i did many a guard with him at Plunkett.
Regards.
Anthony.

[mikeyk1]

hi kellquinn who are u .thanks for the welcome

[carmelkearney]

Hi Joey, im only catching up on this thread now, it made very interesting reading what a history, as you know big Kit was in the 3rdbatt. and Brian(son) is in it now and also Brians son Dean, that makes three generations in the 3rd batt. brothers were also in the army i must try to get all the history from them.

Carmel Kearney

[rose5mcdonaghtce]

Hi Joey,

What a nice bit of reading that was, nice also to read its not The Last of The Summer Wine.

Still have a copy of the verse read out at your Da's 80'th must send it to Matt am sure the members would enjoy it.

Rose.

[kellquinn]

Hi Rose
Yes I remember that one, unfortunately I do not have a copy myself, would like to see it again.
Hope you and all are well.
Regards
JKelly

[Matt McNamara]

Re:KELLY FAMILY MILITARY HISTORY

Hi all
just realised that the last remaining brother of my immediate family has retired from the PDF,
Bringing to an end a family history of long military service in the Army and all of it in the Curragh,with only 3 nephews now in service 2 in the PDF and 1 in the RDF To CARRY ON THE FAMILY TRADITION OF MILITARY SERVICE IN THE IRISH ARMY SINCE ITS FOUNDATION, It all beganwhen our Grand father John having seen service with the Connought Rangers1914-1918, Irish Rifles 1918-1924, He joined the Irish Free State Army in 1924 and served 21 years in the Military Police in the Curragh, his son Joe Joined in 1944 and served for 42 years most of which was in the Military College and retired as BSM, HIS GRANDSONS ALL 6 of them served in the PDF as follows Joey 1967-1988 21yrs retired as Sgt COE, Johnny 1968-2006 38 yrs 3 Bn GTD DFLBC Retired as CQMS Martin 1970-1988 28 yrs Artillary School retired as BS, Francis(butch)1975-2010 Ordnance Corps/DFLBC 35 yrs retired as CPL (5Yrs service Royal NAVY) Seamus(Sharkey)1974-2003 29yrs Tank Sqdn Cav Corps retired as Sgt Paul 1984-2010 25 yrs 1st Ack Ack/ Artillary School retired as Sgt, great grand sons Christy 1st Armd Car Sqdn trooper current, Mickey 3rd BN current both of whom joined up in 2009, and Damien RDF Artillary Sgt current. and 2 more nephews awaiting interviews for the current recruit campain it looks well for the future of the Kelly heritage of service in the Irish Army for years to come add in two son in laws 2 1st cousins 1 2nd cousin at the moment it is looking good for our tradition of service in the family
and with service with the UN IN countries like the Congo Cyprus Lebannon Sinia Chad LIBERIA Somalia the war stories to be told at family gatherings is fierce with slagging.
so with that ill close down for now all the best Johnny