The fascinating story of John Joseph O’Kelly
THE recent 100th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of the first Dáil in 1919 was of particular significance for Valentia Islanders.
John Joseph O’Kelly (Sceilg) was a remarkable man and a Valentia Islander who was born on July 4, 1872, to parents Patrick and Ellen Kelly (née O’Sullivan) of Coromore. His nephews, Johnny and Pádraig; and niece, Mary, all now deceased, resided in Coromore. He attended the National Schools of Corobeg and Portmagee but did not attend secondary school.
O’Kelly learned Irish from his father and also participated in Gaelic Games. He was a writer; journalist; politician; republican; Irish language enthusiast and activist; and a member of the first and second Dáils. He sympathised with the Fenian heritage of his Godfather, James O’Sullivan, and was proud of the achievements of Daniel O’Connell.
By 1897, when O’Kelly left Valentia for Dublin, he was a faithful Catholic, a convinced separatist and a fervent adherer to the Irish Language Movement. He was also determined to advance his own learning.
From 1900 to 1927, Sceilg was involved with and often at the forefront of every nationalist and gaelic organisation (with the notable exception of the Volunteers and the IRB, though O’Kelly did support their actions). Having arrived to Dublin in 1897, he became the Irish Editor of the Freeman’s Journal, and Editor of the Catholic Bulletin (1911-22) as well as An Camán and Banba. He was a member of the Keating Branch of the GAA and a prime contributor to Dineen’s famous Irish Dictionary.
He was President of the Gaelic League (1919-23) following several terms as Vice-president and Secretary.
He was elected as a Sinn Féin MP for Louth in 1918 and Ceann Comhairle of the First Dáil in January 1919.
O’Kelly became our first Minister for Education in the second Dáil of 1921 and the first Minister for the National Language. He also opposed the Treaty.
He was also sent on a fund-raising tour of the US and Australia (1922-24) along with Fr O’Flanagan, and they were, probably, the first two Irishmen to be deported from Australia.
He remained loyal to the Second Dáil following the formation of Fianna Fáil and published more than a score of books in Irish and English and a further score of pamphlets on politics, polemics, education and architecture.
JJ O’Kelly (Sceilg), passed away in Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross, on March 26, 1957, and was laid to rest in Glasnevin.