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 cult ...

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 memb ...

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, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is located on the River Slaney near the border with County Carlow and County Kildare, on the N81 road (Ireland), N81 road ...

, 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 Republic of Ireland, Ireland, from Dublin. At the 2022 census of Ireland, 2022 census, it had a population of 27,351, the List of urban areas in the Republic of Ireland, ...

, 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 judi ...

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 ...

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

resignation Resignation is the formal act of relinquishing or vacating 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 ...

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 (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 an area in London, England, and is located in the City of Westminster. It is in Central London and part of the West End. Oxford Street forms its southern boundary. An ancient parish and latterly a metropo ...

, London, England, from diabetes.

Personal life

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

County Kildare County Kildare () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, 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 gove ...

, 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 (; 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 to June 1945. He was a l ...

, 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 leader ...

, 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