Claire O'Kelly (née O'Donovan, 21 July 1916 – 23 October 2004) was an Irish archaeologist, notable as the first person to write up an accessible account of Irish archaeological sites. She was key to the realisation of the importance of the solstice connection of the

Newgrange Newgrange () is a prehistoric monument in County Meath in Ireland, placed on a rise overlooking the River Boyne, west of the town of Drogheda. It is an exceptionally grand passage tomb built during the Neolithic Period, around 3100 BC, makin ...

structure, and the first person to create a full collection of drawings of the decorated stones of Newgrange.

Career

Claire O'Donovan was born in

Cork "Cork" or "CORK" may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Stopper (plug), or "cork", a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container *** Wine cork an item to seal or reseal wine Places Ireland * ...

to Edward and Johanna O'Donovan, on 21 July 1916. She became a national school teacher until she went to

University College Cork University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) () is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork (city), Cork. The university was founded in 1845 as one of three Queen's Universit ...

in the 1930s, studying archaeology under Professor Seán P. Ó. Ríordáin. She met her future husband, Michael J. O'Kelly, known to family as Brian, while in college, and together they were involved in work on many of Ireland's historical sites, and on the setting up of the Cork Public Museum in 1945. O'Kelly used her fluency in Irish and her knowledge of archaeology to create the necessary archaeological terms for the definitive English/Irish Dictionary edited by Tomás de Bháldraithe. She was behind the research which led to the discovery of

's solar importance, made drawings of the stones of the Boyne Valley sites, most notably Newgrange, and published accessible texts on Newgrange and

Dowth Dowth () is the site of Neolithic passage tombs near the River Boyne in County Meath, Ireland. It is one of the three main tombs of the ''Brú na Bóinne'' World Heritage Site, along with Newgrange and Knowth. Its features align it with the ot ...

. O'Kelly wrote several books for public understanding on the history and importance of Irish sites, and her content is used for the website of Newgrange, for example, even today. Her significance in archaeology and history was recognised when she was elected a Fellow of the

Society of Antiquaries of London The Society of Antiquaries of London (SAL) is a learned society of historians and archaeologists in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1707, received its royal charter in 1751 and is a Charitable organization, registered charity. It is based ...

in 1984. O'Kelly was also involved in artistic Irish life. She was friends with

Gabriel Hayes Gabriel Hayes (25 August 1909 – 28 October 1978) was an Irish artist born in Dublin. She was a sculptor and medallist who studied in Dublin, France, and Italy and was also an accomplished painter. Early life and family Mary Gabriel Hayes ...

, the wife of O'Kelly's university tutor Seán P. Ó. Ríordáin, who used her hands as the models for the stations of the cross in

Galway Galway ( ; , ) is a City status in Ireland, city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the List of settleme ...

cathedral. She had three daughters and, having survived her husband, died aged 88 in Dublin, and was buried in Cork.

Bibliography

* Illustrated Guide to Newgrange, 1967 * Passage-grave Art in the Boyne Vall ey, 1975 * Concise Guide to Newgrange,1976 * Three Passage Graves at Newgrange, Co Meath, 1978 * Illustrated Guide to Newgrange and other Boyne Monuments, 1978 * Illustrated Guide to Lough Gur Co. Limerick, 1978 * Newgrange: Archaeology, Art and Legend ,1982 * Early Ireland, An Introduction to Irish Prehistory, 1989

References and sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:O'Kelly, Claire 1916 births Scholars and academics from Cork (city) 20th-century Irish archaeologists Irish prehistorians Irish women archaeologists Alumni of University College Cork Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London 2004 deaths