Seán Kelly (Kerry Gaelic footballer)
{{Short description|Irish Gaelic footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox GAA player
| code= Football
| sport = Gaelic football
| image =
| name = Seán Kelly
| irish = Seán Ó Ceallaigh
| feet = 5
| inches = 10
| occupation = Civil servant
| nickname =
| county = Kerry
| province = Munster
| club = Kilcummin
Civil Service
| cposition =
| clubs =
| clyears =
| clapps(points) =
| clcounty = 0
| clprovince=
| clallireland =
| counties = Kerry
| icposition = Full-forward
| icyears = 1952-1954
| icapps(points) = 10 (4-13)
| icprovince = 2
| icallireland = 1
| nfl = 0
| allstars =
| clupdate =
| icupdate =
| birth_date = 1925
| birth_place = Kilcummin, County Kerry, Ireland
| death_date = 10 August 2012 (aged 87)
| death_place = Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
}}
Seán Kelly (1925 – 10 August 2012), also known as Seán Ó Ceallaigh, was an Irish Gaelic footballer who played at club level with Dingle and at inter-county level with the Kerry senior football team. He usually lined out as a forward.
Career
Kelly first came to prominence as a Gaelic footballer with St. Brendan's College in the Munster Colleges Championship, before later lining out at club level with Kilcummin and the Civil Service club in Dublin.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2019/02/08/news/-winning-the-all-ireland-would-be-the-greatest-day-in-kilcummin-s-history---former-gaa-president-sean-kelly-1546582/|title='Winning the All-Ireland would be the greatest day in Kilcummin's history' - Former GAA President Sean Kelly|publisher=The Irish News|date=8 February 2019|access-date=18 September 2021|first=Seán|last=Kelly}} His inter-county career began as a 27-year-old when he was first selected for the Kerry senior football team in 1952. Kelly won his only All-Ireland Championship title after lining out at full-forward in a defeat of Armagh in 1953. His other honours include two Munster Championship titles and inclusion on the Munster team for the Railway Cup.{{cite news|url=https://munster.gaa.ie/history/sf_teams/|title=Senior Football|publisher=Munster GAA website|date=|access-date=18 September 2021|first=|last=}}{{cite news|url=https://munster.gaa.ie/history/railway-cup-football/|title=Railway Cup Football|publisher=Munster GAA website|date=|access-date=18 September 2021|first=|last=}}
Personal life and death
Born and raised in Kilcummin, County Kerry, Kelly moved to Dublin to work as a civil servant at the age of 18. Living in Clontarf, he later became Secretary-General of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerryman/news/kilcummin-loses-one-of-its-greatest-sons-28841060.html|title=Kilcummin loses one of its greatest sons|publisher=Irish Independent|date=16 October 2012|access-date=18 September 2021|first=Seán|last=Kelly}} Kelly married Eileen O'Hanrahan and they had seven children. His daughter, Fionnuala, married Enda Kenny who served as Taoiseach from 2011 until 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/taoiseachs-family-bid-sad-farewell-to-humble-father-in-law-26887073.html|title=Taoiseach's family bid sad farewell to 'humble' father-in-law|publisher=Irish Independent|date=15 August 2012|access-date=18 September 2021|first=|last=}} His nephew, also Seán Kelly, has served as a Member of the European Parliament.{{cite news|url=https://hoganstand.com/county/kerry/article/index/186432|title=Seán Ó Ceallaigh|publisher=Hogan Stand|date=15 August 2012|access-date=18 September 2021|first=|last=}}
Kelly died after a brief illness at the Bon Secours Hospital in Glasnevin on 10 August 2012.
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Seán Kelly navigation boxes
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{{Kerry Football Team 1953}}
{{Kerry Football Team 1954}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Sean}}
Category:Kilcummin Gaelic footballers
Category:Kerry inter-county Gaelic footballers