Connacht Tribune
Hundreds flock to mass reunion of Kellys of Castlelambert
Little could three brothers ever have thought more than two centuries ago that, one day, more than 250 of their descendants would travel from around the world for a reunion – at the original homestead of their forefathers.
But that’s what happened recently when the sun shone on the hundreds of Kellys – all following in the footsteps of Paddy, Jack and Hughie Kelly of Castlelambert, Knocknacreeva and Lisheenkyle, to celebrate the history of their clan.
The late Paddy and Bridie Kelly, Castle Lambert
The history of the Kelly family in Castlelambert began in the 1800s when the Kellys moved there and began to herd for Captain Walter Lambert, of the Castle Lambert estate.
The surviving members of the Kelly clan and their families, returned to their roots with a celebration mass, led by retired Bishop Brendan Kelly and accompanied by members of the Athenry choir, in the field where Thomas and Celia Kelly began their family life with Paddy, Jack and Hughie and where some of the original stones from their home can still be seen today.
Farming has been a key central factor in the Kelly family for over a hundred and fifty years and the sons of Paddy, Jack and Hughie Kelly, known locally as Tommy, Tom Joe, Johnny, J.J. and Thomas Kelly still farm in the local areas of Castle Lambert, Knocknacreeva, Caherbriscane and Lisheenkyle today.
Tommy Kelly from Castlelambert, son of Paddy Kelly reflected on the day: “Truly a day to remember! One of many highlights of my life was hosting mass on the farm where I have lived for over 80 years.
Cora, Conor, Jack and Caitrion Kelly travelled from Australia to the Kelly family reunion.
“This is where life started for Thomas and Celia (my grandparents) and their sons Paddy and Hughie. Faith was an important part of their lives, and it was a wonderful occasion to honour their faith and remember family members who have passed.”
Cousins Tom Joe, Tommy, J.J. and Tomas Kelly at the Kelly family reunion
The celebration continued after the mass as the large group moved to the Raheen Woods Hotel, Athenry ,to watch slideshows and videos of family photos from the 1900s to the present day and listened to a presentation of the Kelly family history from 1750 onwards.
Members of the Kelly family travelled from as far afield as the U.S.A., Australia, Britain, Cavan, Kerry, Waterford, and Dublin for the occasion.
Jerry Kelly, son of Hughie Kelly, a builder, travelled from Chicago to the event with his wife Aishling and their twin daughters Gráinne and Kate to join the family celebration.
“Travelling back from Chicago with my family was exciting, and what an experience, meeting cousins we hadn’t met before from Australia, England and USA,” he said.
“Understanding where our heritage began with mass held on the original home from where my grandfather Thomas was evicted in 1905 was truly amazing.
“How we have grown, multiplied and prospered since then. A spectacular event, organised by a fantastic committee.”
Conor Kelly, grandson of Jack Kelly, works as an ED Consultant in Melbourne, Australia, and travelled the furthest distance (1,7350 km) with his wife Catriona and children Jack and Cora to Castle Lambert for the Kelly Gathering. “This was a rare opportunity to attend a multi-generational celebration bringing young and old together from around the world to reconnect, reminisce and rejoice” he said.
Five Kelly brothers who hurled for Athenry and attended the Kelly Gathering (from left to right) Thomas Kelly, Lisheenkyle, Athenry; Noel Kelly, Ard Aoibhinn, Athenry; Tony Kelly, Palmerstown, Oranmore; JJ Kelly, Caherbriscane, Athenry and Gerry Kelly, Orland Park, Chicago.
The planning for the Kelly gathering began in November 2019, when a family gathering committee was formed with members from the Paddy, Jack and Hughie Kelly families – but the Covid pandemic forced its postponement until 2022.
And only six days before the event took place, the total number of direct descendants from Thomas and Celia Kelly was updated to 316, when a new addition, Grace Barrett was added to the family tree.
The Kellys out in force for their family gathering.
Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
