FAMILY members and friends gathered in Dublin recently to share in the 100th birthday celebrations of a proud Donegal man.
Brian Kelly was born in Tievockmoy, Stranorlar on September 11, 1926, the third child of John Kelly and Elizabeth (Sarah) Jane Cunningham.
The family moved a short time later to Magheracorran, Convoy and Brian attended Broadpath NS and later the Finn College, Ballybofey.
He became a member of an Garda Síochana and began on May 19, 1946. He was first stationed in Cloonfad on the SligoMayo border, then in Bray and Roundwood, Co Wicklow and Dundrum, Dublin. He was appointed Inspector to Kevin Street, Dublin in 1967.
Brian was later transferred, on promotion to Superintendent, to Granard, Co Longford, for four years before returning to Dublin where he finished up his career in Harcourt Street, where he retired on May 14, 1989 exactly 43 years to the day he joined.
Brian remained an active member of Garda retirement groups as well as Stackstown Golf Club. He is also a long term supporter and patron of St Raphael’s Credit Union and St Paul’s Garda medical aid.
He still maintains regular contact with the priests in Mount Argus, who are chaplains to the Garda Síochana. His most difficult points in his career included when he was on duty in 1972 on the night of February 2 when the British Embassy was burned and the night of the Dublin bombing on May 17, 1974.
Some of the highlights of his career included being part of the security team on duty during the visit of President John F Kennedy in June 1963.
He greeted the President and led the cavalcade to the Kennedy ancestral home in Wexford. He also met Princess Grace of Monaco and Pope John Paul II.
Brian was married to Gay Browne for 60 years until her passing in 2019. They had four sons, John (Rena), Gerard (Jane), Tony (Gillian) and Brian (Jacinta). Brian also has four grandchildren, George, Nessa, Aisling and Neil.
Brian is now the last of his family, as his six siblings have all passed away, namely, Rosaleen and Maureen Kelly, (Magheracorran, Convoy) Sean (Glasgow), Eugene (Stranorlar), Edna Murray (Mountcharles) and Kevin (Letterkenny).
Brian is in excellent health and keeps in regular contact with his family in Donegal, especially his nephew, Jonathan Kelly.
He remains a keen sports enthusiast and watches all forms of sport from racing and golf to football.
He celebrated his 100th birthday in the company of family and friends in the Holy Family Residence, Roebuck, Dublin, where he has been a resident now for a few years.
Brian is still fondly remembered and highly respected in his native Donegal and much farther afield and is wished continued good health and happiness as he enters his 101st year.
Brian Kelly with his nephew, Jonathan Kelly.
Brian Kelly receiving Holy Communion from Pope John Paul.