Edward Peter O'Kelly (4 July 1846 – 22 July 1914) was an

Irish nationalist Irish nationalism is a nationalist political movement which, in its broadest sense, asserts that the people of Ireland should govern Ireland as a sovereign state. Since the mid-19th century, Irish nationalism has largely taken the form of cu ...

politician who was a member of the

House of Commons of the United Kingdom The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the upper house, the House of Lords, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. The House of Commons is an elected body consisting of 650 me ...

both in 1895, and between 1910 and 1914.

Early life

O'Kelly was born on 4 July 1846 in

Baltinglass Baltinglass, historically known as Baltinglas (), is a town in south-west County Wicklow, Ireland. It is located on the River Slaney near the border with County Carlow and County Kildare, on the N81 road. Etymology The town's Irish name, ''Be ...

, County Wicklow, Ireland. He grew up attending school at Mountrath Monastery and St Patrick's College, in

Carlow Carlow ( ; ) is the county town of County Carlow, in the south-east of Ireland, from Dublin. At the 2016 census, it had a combined urban and rural population of 24,272. The River Barrow flows through the town and forms the historic bounda ...

, Ireland.

Career

O'Kelly was elevated to Chairman of the Baltinglass Board of Guardians in 1893 and was appointed a

magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judici ...

in 1894. He was a passionate Land Leaguer. In April 1895, O'Kelly was elected as a Member of Parliament as an Anti-Parnellite

Irish National Federation The Irish National Federation (INF) was a nationalist political party in Ireland. It was founded in 1891 by former members of the Irish National League (INL), after a split in the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) on the leadership of Charles S ...

candidate at the by-election for the West Wicklow constituency, following the

resignation Resignation is the formal act of leaving or quitting one's office or position. A resignation can occur when a person holding a position gained by election or appointment steps down, but leaving a position upon the expiration of a term, or choos ...

John Sweetman John Sweetman (9 August 1844 – 8 September 1936) was an Irish nationalist politician who served as an Anti-Parnellite Irish National Federation Member of Parliament (MP) in the 1890s, but later radicalised. He was one of the founders of Sinn ...

MP. However, Parliament was dissolved on 8 July for the 1895 general election, and O'Kelly decided not to defend his seat. Instead, O'Kelly focused on local politics, becoming the first chairman of the newly established Wicklow County Council in 1899. In 1910, O'Kelly returned to the House of Commons as the

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

(MP) representing West Wicklow, having been elected unopposed at a March 1910 by-election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James O'Connor. He was re-elected unopposed in December 1910 and held the seat until he died in office in July 1914, aged 68. in

Marylebone Marylebone (usually , also , ) is a district in the West End of London, in the City of Westminster. Oxford Street, Europe's busiest shopping street, forms its southern boundary. An Civil parish#Ancient parishes, ancient parish and latterly a ...

, London, England, from diabetes.

Personal life

O'Kelly married Judith Whelan (1862–1911), the daughter of Myles Whelan of Athy,

County Kildare County Kildare ( ga, Contae Chill Dara) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county, ...

, in 1882, by whom he had issue: Eileen (Sister Marie de Chantal), Anne Edith (Sister Mary Magdalen), Edward John, Teresa Mary (Sister Mary Marguerite), Joseph, Mrs Agnes Lynch; Father Patrick O'Kelly SJ, Muriel Carmella, Prof. William D. O'Kelly, Genevieve, and Mrs Ethel O'Loughlin. O'Kelly was a close friend of

Douglas Hyde Douglas Ross Hyde ( ga, Dubhghlas de hÍde; 17 January 1860 – 12 July 1949), known as (), was an Irish academic, linguist, scholar of the Irish language, politician and diplomat who served as the first President of Ireland from June 1938 t ...

, first President of Ireland, and

John Redmond John Edward Redmond (1 September 1856 – 6 March 1918) was an Irish nationalism, Irish nationalist politician, barrister, and Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. He was best known as lead ...

, a leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:OKelly, Edward Peter 1846 births 1914 deaths Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for County Wicklow constituencies (1801–1922) Anti-Parnellite MPs UK MPs 1892–1895 Irish Parliamentary Party MPs UK MPs 1910 UK MPs 1910–1918