irish travellers kelly family

• Researching Irish Traveller Ancestors

Tracing Irish Traveller family history can be extra challenging due to the lack of written records. However, there are clues to be found that can point to Irish Traveller ancestry, and a number of resources to help people discover more.

​ This resource is a work in progress; please feel free to add recommendations and suggestions to this message board thread .

An Lucht Siúil  ( Traveling Folk  lit. the Walking People) or Travellers can refer to a variety of people who lived life on the road. Irish Travellers aka Mincéir aka Pavee are a distinct Irish ethnic group with their own customs, language and traditions. Many live in the UK for all or part of the year. They are a recognised ethnic minority group.

Irish Traveller culture and ancestry

Irish Travellers are a separate cultural group that started migrating to Britain in the early 19th century and can be traced back to 12th century Ireland. 

Population structure & History of Irish travellers

Genetic research found that Irish Travellers are of Irish origin and have significant genetic makeup compared to their settled community. An estimated 40,000 Travellers (less than 1% of the population) are living in Ireland today. Although sometimes called gypsies, they have no genetic relation to  Romani . 

Gene study reveals Irish Travellers' ancestry

The Celtic Travellers DNA project is for descendants and members and of  Irish Travellers , Highland Scottish Travellers, Lowland Scottish Travellers, Fairground Travellers and other  Non-Romani  travelling families. However, Roma or mixed Traveller heritage are also welcome to join.

Celtic Travellers DNA Project

Searching Census & Vital Records for clues

Clues that can suggest Traveller ancestry include:

Occupations: tinker, tinman, tinsmith, whitesmith, dealer, pedlar, horse dealer, basket maker,  peg maker , knife grinder/ sharpener, hawker , musician , and sometimes labourer.

Place of Birth : All the children in the family being born in different places is also a big clue. 

Residence : Unusual residences such as "tent on common"

Irish Gypsies and Irish Travellers are distinct ethnic groups often referred to in parish registers as 'Pavees' or 'Minceir'. 

Irish Traveller Genealogy Resources

Here is a list of useful resources to help you trace Irish Traveller or Mincéir ancestors:

TravellerHeritage.ie

https://www.paveepoint.ie/ PaveePoint.ie

The Romany & Traveller Family History Society

Travellers Times

RomaHeritage.co.uk  |  GypsyWagons.co.uk  |  Gypsy Genealogy

Special Collections:  Liverpool  |  Leeds  |  Reading  |  Surrey  |  Sussex 

IrelandXO Message Board

The IrelandXO message board can be a great resource for finding out more about Irish Traveller family histories and connecting with other descendants. Click on the links to read some interesting message board threads:

Need Information on "Tinkers", "Travelers"

McDonough/McDonagh family from Killedan

O'Brien/O'Leary

Doran in Galway

IrelandXO Traveller Timelines

• Traveling Folk in the 1930s

Irish Traveller Buildings & Places

• St Nicholas of Myra, Francis St, DUBLIN
• Long Mile Road WALKINSTOWN

Irish Traveller Photo Collections

UCD Digital Collection

Common Irish Traveller Family Names

Berry, Brown, Cash , Carmody, Carthy, Casey, Cassidy, Cawley , Clark, Collins, Connors , Conroy, Corcoran, Cunningham, Delaney, Doherty , Donoghue/ O’Donoghue, Donovan , Doran, Dunne , Flynn, Furey , Gallagher, Green, Hanafin/ Hannifin , Hand, Hanley, Hanrahan, Harper, Hennessey, Joyce , Keating, Keenan, Kerrigan, Kiely, Lawrence, Lee, Lynch, Maguire, Malone, Maloney, Maughan , Mongan, Moorehouse McCarthy , MacDonald, McDonagh , MacDonnell, MacAleer, McCann, McDonnell, McGinley, McInerney, MacLoughlin, McRea, Nevin, Nolan, O’Donnell, O’Reilly / Reilly, Power, Purcell, Price, Quinn, Stokes , Sweeney, Ward , Wall, Windrum.

​Famous Irish Traveller Ancestors 

Sean Connery's ancestor: James Connery born circa 1840

Margaret Barry born 1917

The Duchás Folklore Collection

Between 1937 and 1939, primary school pupils across the Republic of Ireland interviewed the elderly in their neighborhood to collect and record local stories and folklore from the 19th century. "The Schools Collection" as it became known is held by the Dúchas Folklore Collection in UCD and is and has been digitized online at duchas.ie. One of the topics schoolchildren were asked to write about were "Travelling Folk" or An Lucht Siúil. Click here  to read a selection of what "settled" children wrote about travelers in the late 1930s.

Are you descended from Irish Travellers? Add their story to the IrelandXO website and connect with other descendants living all around the world. 

Additional Advice from our IrelandXO Community

My great-grandmother was from Galway Travellers, it took me years to put together the best family history I could manage.  If you are not sure the name you are looking for is a Traveling People name you might go to the Pavee Point site and search other sites under Traveller History, names, etc.   There are different groups of people who seem to come under the category of "Traveller", Irish, English,  UK, Scotland & Wales),  Roma, Romania & South Eastern European, Carnival & Show Travelers, and I'm sure others. Families often marry within particular other families, I saw an online list of which families marry into which other name families and first names are repeated thru generations like the Irish naming pattern used to be, these lists are usually individual observations and quite old.  In addition to the name on UK census records you might find the address listed as "in Tents",  "in Lanes", etc.  The occupation might be listed, such as it was for my great grandfather, as Tinman , as the Traveling people used to do pot mending and such things as they moved from place to place.  Location can be difficult because of moving from place to place,  often within a particular area, such as only Munster,  or Scotland to Ireland, I spent years finding a family member who had gone to Wales.  Then of course someone you are searching may have gotten Transportation to Australia or be in prison in England, sometimes waiting several years there before transportation. This might be a bit of luck for you as records for prison and transportation are online.   Of course you can always search the parish registers in a particular area you are interested in, as Traveling People are likely to be Roman Catholic and very likely to have their children baptized which would be recorded along with other church sacramental records, marriage etc.  Also consider that many people with Irish Travelling people heritage were settled and maybe had not been going from place to place for years, if not generations.   As far as DNA sites I recommend My Heritage , this site has more Irish, UK, English than any other I have seen.  If your DNA is on another site you probably can transfer it to My Heritage for free, its very worthwhile.  Make good use of your higher number DNA matches by checking the shared matches for repeat names. 

Elaine Walsh

** originally published in 2022

We hope you have found the information we have shared helpful. While you are here, we have a small favour to ask. Ireland Reaching Out is a non-profit organisation that relies on public funding and donations to ensure a completely free family history advisory service to anyone of Irish heritage who needs help connecting with their Irish place of origin. If you would like to support our mission, please click on the donate button and make a contribution. Any amount, big or small, is appreciated and makes a difference. 

Explore Irish Ancestry

The Kelly Clan – A History

The O’Kelly surname is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic name O’Ceallaigh . Before the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, several branches of the Kelly clan held power in different regions of Ireland.

Like many other Irish clans, they lost much of their power and lands in the 12 th century. However, Kelly is one of the most common names in Ireland in modern times (the statistics are in our article on the Kelly family name ).

But let’s take a look at what’s known of their early history.

Table of Contents

The Uí Maine Kellys

In Connacht, the Kellys were part of the Uí Maine, a group of powerful families whose territory covered much of what is now County Galway and County Roscommon.

The Kellys were one of the leading septs (sub-groups) of the Uí Maine. This family produced many distinguished chiefs, among them Tadhg Mór Ó Ceallaigh.

Tadhg Mór Ó Ceallaigh, Died 1014

Tadhg Mór Ó Ceallaigh is particularly famous for his actions in the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, one of the most famous and significant battles in Irish history.

The battle pitted the forces of Brian Boru , the High King of Ireland, against a coalition of Irish and Viking forces led by the King of Leinster, Máel Mórda mac Murchada, and the Viking King of Dublin, Sitric Silkbeard.

Tadhg Mór Ó Ceallaigh was a commander in the army of Brian Boru. Although Brian’s forces won the battle, Brian Boru himself had been slain in his tent by one of the enemy leaders, Brodir of the Isle of Man.

As the fighting was coming to an end, Tadhg Mór was fatally wounded on the battlefield. But as he was dying, he killed Brodir, thus avenging Brian.

It’s worth noting that this account comes from later sources and has likely been embellished over the centuries. Still, Tadhg Mór Ó Ceallaigh is revered as a heroic figure in the history of the Kelly clan.

The Breagh Kellys

Another O’Cealleagh family were lords of Breagh, a territory covering parts of County Meath and North Dublin.

These Kellys were a branch of the Ui Neill dynasty (the O’Neills).

Other Kelly Families

These two groups of Kellys operated independently of each other, and it’s likely that many other families in Ireland also adopted the name Kelly (Ó Ceallaigh) independently.

So, the history of the Kellys is really the history of several distinct families, each with their own stories and power dynamics.

Colla da Crioch – Ancestor Of The Kelly Clan

Some scholars say that the Kelly clan descends from Colla da Crioch, a king in the 4th century. Legend has it that he was one of three brothers known as the Three Collas:

• Colla da Crioch

“Colla” means strong man, and “Colla da Crioch” means “Colla of the two countries”. The two countries were Ireland and Scotland.

The brothers’ uncle Fiacha was High King of Ireland. When the brothers killed him in battle, Colla Uais took the title for four years.

But the trio were defeated by Fiacha’s son, Muireadach, who banished them to Scotland. After some years, Muireadach let them return and command his armies.

If you’re wondering why the son was so forgiving towards the men who killed his father, there was a prophecy that stayed his hand. The legend was that if someone killed the brothers, his descendants would not become king. That’s why Muireadach let them live – but made them work in his service.

Muireadach sent the three brothers to conquer territory in Ulster. The story goes that Fergus, the King of Ulster, killed Colla Menn before he himself was killed by Colla Da Crioch.

The conquered lands became a new kingdom called Airghialla (Oriel) that covered parts of Derry, Tyrone, west Monaghan, and Fermanagh. Colla da Crioch was the first king of Airghialla.

The descendants of the Collas established many of the great clans of Ireland. Some lines are more accepted than others! The Ui Maine Kellys are said by some to be descendants of Da Crioch.

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Irish America

Roots: The Kelly Clan

January 1, 2011 by 24 Comments

Kelly is one of the most common Irish names due to the fact that it originates from at least seven different and unrelated ancient clans or septs. One of the major septs is the O’Kellys of Ui Maine or Hy Many in East Galway and South Roscommon.

An authentic pedigree of this family exists from earliest times and is contained in the Book of Hy Many , which was written in the 14th century under the direction of William O’Kelly, chief of Hy Many.

The name O’Kelly is derived from the Gaelic O Ceallaigh, meaning “descended from Ceallach.” The latter is an ancient personal name. The name McKelly, which means “son of Kelly” also exists, though  it is less common.

Sean T. O’Kelly (1882-1966) was President of Ireland from 1945 to 1959. Kelly is reported to have been one of the most common Irish names appearing on early American records. On the muster rolls of the American Revolutionary Army, there are no less than 695 Kellys including Major John Kelly, who is remembered for his destruction of the bridge at Stonybrook during the American retreat from Trenton.

Another famous American Kelly was Luther “Yellowstone” Kelly (1849-1928) who, almost unintentionally, became a famous U.S. Army scout. In 1865, he enlisted in the 10th Infantry. After the war, he was ordered west to Colorado, where he learned the Sioux language and customs. After his eventual release from the Army, he became a hunter and trapper in the Yellowstone area. He subsequently rejoined the Army as a guide to General Forsythe. As chief scout to General Wilson Miles, Kelly later served in several campaigns against Sitting Bull and the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes. He also served as a guide for the Army in other areas of Colorado and, later, on an expedition to Alaska. Later in his long career, he headed a party of Marines in the Philippines and received special praise from President Roosevelt. He is buried at Kelly Mountain, Billings, Montana.

Also present with Yellowstone Kelly in the campaign against Sitting Bull was James O’Kelly (1845-1916). A war correspondent and politician, his life was no less remarkable. Born in Dublin, he joined the French Foreign Legion at age 18 and was sent to Mexico to support Emperor Maximilian. He was captured by the Mexican General Canales, but escaped and returned to France where he served as a captain in the French Army.

In 1870, O’Kelly joined the New York Herald and was sent to report on the Cuban revolt. There, he managed to penetrate the Cuban lines to interview General Caspades, President of the Republic. Captured by the Spanish, he avoided being shot as a spy only by diplomatic intervention. Following his reporting of the Sitting Bull campaign, he returned to Ireland and became a Nationalist member of the Parliament in 1880.

A controversial character in the history of the Irish in Australia was Edward “Ned” Kelly (1854-1880). A symbol of resistance to colonial rule in Australia and the son of an Irish convict, Kelly’s string of robberies and attacks on police forces and colonial institutions left him jailed and executed. He remains an iconic symbol of the resistance to British rule down under.

In the sporting field, Michael “King” Kelly (1857-1894) was a great baseball player of his era. He made his name with the Chicago White-Stockings. In 1887, he was sold to Boston for the then record price of $10,000, earning him the nickname “the $10,000 Beauty.”

Grace Kelly (1929-1982), the film star who became Princess of Monoco, was the granddaughter of John Kelly from County Mayo. Her father, Jack Kelly, was a self-made millionaire and also an Olympic gold medalist in rowing. Her uncle, George Kelly, was a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Also in show business was the dynamic Gene Kelly (1913-1996), star of such classics as Singin’ in the Rain and An American in Paris .

Creating sparks in both film and literature, Mary Pat Kelly does her clan proud by telling the tales of Ireland and Irish America. Her recent novel Galway Bay is a moving depiction of the immigrant story and her films document the lives of the Irish in politics and in the Armed Forces. Her direct line of Kellys were no strangers to politics – her ancestor was mayor of Chicago.

Another writer of the Kelly stronghold is Keith J. Kelly who writes a media column for the NY Post . He founded Kelly Gang,  which holds benefits and honors various member of the clan, including Ray Kelly is the current Commissioner of the New York City Police Department. He has served the NYPD in various capacities for 31 years.

The Kelly clan is also well-represented in our Business 100 list this year, by Fran Kelly, vice chairman of Arnold Worldwide; Robert Kelly, CEO and chairman of Bank of New York Mellon; David Kelly, chief marketing strategist at J.P. Morgan; Shaun Kelly, vice chair – operations at KPMG; and Margaret Kelly, CEO of Re/Max.

And last, but by no means least, is Coach Brian Kelly, the subject of our cover story, who has achieved a great deal of success in his career and is now raising the bar at the University of Notre Dame.

Reader Interactions

October 25, 2012 at 9:29 pm

hi,very interesting to read of all the various kellys. best wishes, peter kelly, co.wexford, ireland ,

May 5, 2022 at 9:29 pm

Yes, it’s very interesting. I love reading all I can about the Kelly’s/Kelleys.

July 8, 2022 at 12:29 am

It is!!! To think we may be related hahaha to these people

March 6, 2017 at 10:18 pm

I was curious if the kelly(family) is related to the mccarty’s? As well, where can i find a website that lists all the irish descent by last name that’s of relation

May 5, 2022 at 9:31 pm

I’m looking to. If you find it, let me know. If I do, I’ll tell you.

May 16, 2017 at 8:35 am

This is so interesting to read now i know my clans and origination thank a minions

May 5, 2022 at 9:33 pm

September 9, 2017 at 10:18 am

I have just aquired the knowledge I’m the decendant of King David and would love to here more,

September 6, 2020 at 6:44 pm

How did you find out you were a descendant of King David? Jeffrey Kelly

May 5, 2022 at 9:34 pm

How would I go about learning this as well?

July 24, 2018 at 12:20 pm

November 25, 2018 at 8:06 pm

John Kelly from Manchester, proud of my Irish heritage from Co. Carlow. Yeah

January 22, 2019 at 11:38 am

I would love to know more about our family.

May 17, 2019 at 12:18 am

I know nothing about my father’s family other than his father’s name is John Patrick Kelly from Union Town PA My grandmother, Josephine Koches is An first generation born Austrian From what I can gather my father was the result of an affair between John Kelly (married) and my grandmother. That is all I know I would love toore about my family .my father refused to discuss anything about that part of his life. Sine he has died I am trying to find the rest of my family

October 21, 2019 at 9:10 am

I was told a story about 4 brothers from Ireland supposedly I just sent from those can anyone tell me anything about them one of the names with Marshall and another name was William and can anybody clear up the difference between Kelly with an e and Kelly without an e ?

August 15, 2020 at 8:13 pm

Michael > My Fathers name is also Michael >Yes, Michael Kelly of County Wexford Ireland >arrived in the U.S.A. 1956 > He & other Irishmen have explained to me that ‘Kelly’ with one ‘E’ *generally denotes ‘catholic’ and ‘Kelly’ with 2 ‘E”s *generally denotes ‘protestant’…. Have a nice day my friend 🙂

June 10, 2023 at 8:24 am

As a young girl, I had a friend who spelled her name Kelley, they were of Catholic origin and my Protestant family was Kelly.

December 23, 2022 at 10:02 am

Hi my name is Sébastien Kelly my father is called Jean-Claude Kelly and his father was Donat Kelly and I am there third generation arrived in Quebec, Before my great grandfather who is called John Kelley lived in Ireland on ( e ) his lost when he arrived in Quebec. I would really like to know more about my Kelley origins in Ireland.

January 11, 2020 at 5:11 am

What does Kelly mean in gaelic and what script or font is correct 9047165668

May 6, 2020 at 2:35 pm

Hi my name is Alton and my surname is Kelly and I would like to know about my family abrought I live in South Africa

September 1, 2020 at 11:01 pm

Well done my family of Kelly’s everywhere

February 17, 2021 at 6:26 pm

Please add to the list of famous Kellys, the recently elected new Supreme Knight, Patrick E. Kelly. As of March 1st, Patrick will serve as the 14th CEO and chairman of the Board of Directors of the worlds largest largest Catholic men’s fraternal and charitable organization.

January 25, 2022 at 7:58 am

I would also love to know about Ireland… my grandfather and my mother were from there

September 25, 2023 at 7:44 am

I was in Ireland last week and speaking to Kellys in County Galway someone said the OKellys were the rich ones whilst the Kellys the poor ones.

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Kelly: family name history

Origin of the surname.

The Kelly surname, one of the most prolific Irish surnames, has its roots in ancient Irish history. The name derives from the Gaelic Ó Ceallaigh, meaning “descendant of Ceallach.” This patronymic surname provides a direct link to the clan’s eponymous ancestor, Ceallach.

Etymology and Meaning

The personal name Ceallach is of uncertain origin. It’s believed to be derived from the Gaelic elements ‘ceall’, which could mean either “church” or “war,” and ‘ach’, a diminutive suffix. Therefore, the meaning of Ceallach, and by extension Kelly, could be interpreted as “little church” or “warrior.”

Earliest Known Usage

The earliest known usage of the Kelly surname dates back to the 10th century in Ireland, where the Ó Ceallaigh clan held considerable power. The various branches of the clan were primarily located in the Irish provinces of Ulster, Leinster, and Connacht, each with its distinct lineage.

Geographic Distribution

Historically, the Kelly surname was widely distributed across Ireland, particularly in the counties of Galway, Meath, Roscommon, and Wicklow. Today, it remains one of the most common surnames in Ireland. Due to emigration, particularly during the Great Famine in the mid-19th century, the Kelly surname can now be found in significant numbers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and other parts of the world.

Original Geographic Location

The Kelly clans originally established themselves in different parts of Ireland. The Meath Kellys held land around modern-day County Kildare; the Wicklow Kellys were based in the southern part of the county; the Galway Kellys, also known as O’Kellys, were one of the main tribes of Galway, ruling over the territory of Hy-Many.

Migration Patterns

Significant migration of the Kelly surname occurred during the 19th century, driven primarily by the Great Irish Famine (1845-1852). This led to a considerable Kelly diaspora, particularly in North America, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Many Kellys also migrated to other parts of Europe and the world over time.

Historical Context

Notable historical events.

Individuals with the Kelly surname have been involved in many significant historical events, particularly those related to Irish history. The Kellys were a part of the various Irish rebellions, the struggle for Irish independence, and the Irish diaspora.

Involvement in Key Moments in History

Many Kellys have been involved in key moments in history, from military engagements to political movements. For example, Ned Kelly, the infamous Australian bushranger, is a notable figure in Australian history. His story has been immortalized in literature, film, and art, contributing significantly to the Australian cultural identity.

Notable Bearers of the Surname

Famous individuals.

Notable bearers of the Kelly surname include Grace Kelly, the Oscar-winning American actress who became the Princess of Monaco, and Gene Kelly, a leading figure in mid-20th century Hollywood known for his innovations in musical cinema.

Influential Figures

Other influential figures include David E. Kelly, an American television writer and producer known for creating successful TV series like “Boston Legal” and “Big Little Lies,” and John F. Kelly, a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the White House Chief of Staff for President Donald Trump.

Variations of the Surname

Spelling variations.

The anglicization of Gaelic names has resulted in numerous spelling variations of the surname. Kelly is sometimes spelled Kelley, and its original Gaelic form

can appear as O’Kelly, O’Killia, and even Queally in anglicized forms.

Regional Differences

Regional differences have also led to variations of the surname. For example, in the province of Ulster, the spelling “Kelley” is more common, while in the rest of Ireland, “Kelly” is the standard spelling.

Current Statistics and Distribution

Frequency and global distribution.

The Kelly surname is one of the most frequently found surnames in Ireland and maintains a strong presence in other countries with large Irish diasporas. As of 2021, Kelly ranked as the second most common surname in Ireland. In the United States, Kelly was listed as the 69th most common surname according to the 2010 Census.

Changes Over Time

Over time, the distribution of the Kelly surname has evolved due to migration, cultural assimilation, and intermarriage. However, the name has consistently remained strongly associated with Ireland and its diaspora worldwide.

Family Coat of Arms

The Kelly family crest is a striking and symbolic representation that encapsulates the family’s rich history and values, featuring elements that carry deep heraldic significance. The design is both traditional and emblematic, illustrating the family’s distinguished heritage and their roles within their historical context.

Motto: The crest features the motto “Turris fortis mihi Deus,” which translates from Latin to “God is my strong tower.” This motto reflects a profound reliance on divine strength and protection, highlighting a central aspect of the family’s guiding principles and spiritual resilience.

Arms: The main field of the arms is blue, or azure, a color in heraldry that is associated with loyalty, truth, and strength. This background supports two silver (argent) lions rampant combatant, classic heraldic depictions that symbolize bravery and valor. The lions are chained in gold, which not only signifies a reward for significant service but also underscores the controlled power and authority these noble beasts represent. They are supporting a triple-turreted silver tower, underscoring strength and fortified defense, suggesting the family’s historical role in protecting and overseeing their domains.

The blue background of the arms provides a foundation that symbolizes the family’s enduring loyalty and truthfulness. The lions represent the noblest of creatures, denoting strength, courage, and royal demeanor. The gold chain indicates honor and service, possibly rewarded for significant familial contributions or achievements. The silver tower highlights the importance of defense and fortified strength, reflective of a strategic or protective role in the family’s history.

These elements collectively create a family crest that is not only visually impressive but also rich in symbolism, reflecting the Kelly family’s commitment to honor, strength, and service. It serves as a proud emblem of their historical significance and their unwavering values.

Did you find this helpful?

Related posts.

O’Kennedy: family name history

The Rich Tapestry of Irish Heraldry: Exploring Family Crests and Their Significance

Understanding the Symbolism in Irish Coats of Arms and Family Crests

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The long road towards acceptance for Irish Travellers

The Irish Traveller community is fighting for official recognition of its ethnic identity and for a way of life.

Avila Park, Dublin, Ireland –   In a wooden shed in his back garden, James Collins sits on a low stool hammering out the final touches on a billy can. At 68, he is one of only two remaining traveller tinsmiths in Ireland.

Above the clutter of well-worn tools and scrap sheet metal hang a dozen or so other cans. Nowadays, he says, there’s precious little demand for his trade, and he largely continues it as a hobby, occasionally selling some of his work at vintage craft fairs.

Since the introduction of plastic homeware in the 1960s and 1970s, tinsmithing – traditionally dominated by the historically nomadic community known as Travellers – has effectively died out. Even the block tin, James originally used, is no longer available.

“It’s more difficult to work with,” he says, holding up a gleaming aluminium can. “You can’t make what you want to make out of it because you have to use solder and that won’t take solder.”

READ MORE: Ballinasloe Horse Fair – An ancient Irish tradition

James was raised on the road in the Irish midlands, a traditional upbringing unknown to most Travellers today. “I was bred, born and reared on the road,” he says, “but the young lads today wasn’t. They all grew up in houses and went to school and all this craic. I never got any education, never went to school in my life.”

Until his late 20s, when he settled in Avila Park, a housing estate for Travellers on the outskirts of Dublin, the Irish capital, James plied his trade for farmers, smithing and repairing buckets. “It never goes out of your mind; you’re always thinking, thinking the whole time about the road,” he says.

In comparison, younger generations have little interest in traditional crafts or the travelling lifestyle – James’ children and grandchildren don’t know how to harness a horse, for example. And anti-trespass legislation introduced in the early 2000s, which was used to disperse encampments by the side of roads or on council-owned land, made a nomadic existence increasingly difficult.

Yet, even as the distinct traditions of Irish Travellers seem to fade into the past, the battle for official recognition of their identity continues.

The search for recognition

Unlike the United Nations and the United Kingdom, Ireland does not recognise Travellers as a separate ethnicity from the non-Traveller community. For decades, human rights organisations and Traveller advocacy groups have been seeking this recognition, but to little avail.

However, on January 26, a parliamentary committee established to investigate the issue stated unequivocally that “Travellers are, de facto, a separate ethnic group”.

“This is not a gift to be bestowed upon them, but a fact the state ought to formally acknowledge,” it further said.

The committee report urged the Taoiseach, Ireland’s prime minister, or the minister for justice to give a statement to the Dail, the Irish parliament, acknowledging this at the earliest opportunity.

This development was welcomed by members of the Travelling community, although some remain cautious in their optimism. It would not be the first time an Irish government has reneged on such commitments – a 2014 parliamentary report made the same recommendation, which was never acted upon.

A history of deprivation and discrimination

An examination of the almost 30,000 Travellers in the Republic of Ireland shows a staggering level of deprivation completely at odds with the non-Traveller community. Another 4,000 to 5,000 Travellers live in Northern Ireland, in a similar situation.

Around half of Travellers have no secondary education and only 1 percent have attended university, according to Pavee Point, a group fighting for the rights of Travellers.

WATCH: Irish travellers facing discrimination

Some 84 percent of Travellers are unemployed, while suicide rates are almost seven times higher than among settled people. A 2010 study found that life expectancy was 15 years lower among men and 11 years lower among women when compared with their settled counterparts.

Discrimination against Travellers remains endemic at social and institutional levels. Being denied entry to businesses is a common occurrence and many try to hide their background when applying for jobs, fearing that potential employers will not hire them.

“Symbolically it would have a profound impact on our collective sense of identity, self-esteem and confidence as a people,” says Martin Collins, the co-director of Pavee Point, on the recognition of Traveller ethnicity.

“Some travellers have internalised [racism] and end up believing that they are of no value, they are of no worth … So that’s the impact. That’s the outcome of both racism and your identity being denied.”

A culture denied

It was a 1963 government report, the Commission on Itinerancy, that has set the tone for the state’s attitude towards Travellers ever since, says Sinn Fein Senator Padraig MacLochlainn, the first person from a Traveller background to be elected to the Irish parliament.

The Committee on Itinerancy ‘s terms of reference defined Travellers as a “problem”, whose social ills were “inherent in their way of life,” and outlined the goal of “promot[ing] their absorption into the general community”.

No Travellers were on the committee, nor were they consulted for its report.

“Our people and our state denied their history and decided that they were criminals and they needed to be immersed in with the rest of us,” says MacLochlainn.

This refusal to acknowledge the community’s rich cultural history – notably their own language, Cant, and significant contributions to Irish traditional music – persists today.

Traveller culture is frequently portrayed in the media as separate and distinct, MacLochlainn says, but almost always in negative terms, in exploitation TV shows   such as My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and exposes on Traveller criminality.

“You clearly accept them as a distinct group – why are you making these programmes if you don’t? If they’re a distinct group, could you do it now in positive terms?

“When it comes to negative characterisations, the media, the establishment … in Ireland are more than happy for them to be characterised in negative terms,” the senator says.

Behind James’ shed in Avila Park, traditional and modern Traveller accommodation sit side by side. A wooden barreltop caravan, washed green with blue and red embellishments, sits between two mobile home units, where his younger relatives stay.

Only one has both electricity and running water, which were installed by the family. Power is provided from the house by a yellow cable, wound loosely around plastic drainpipes and holes in its pebbledash exterior.

An early morning fire in a nearby prefabricated unit just a few weeks before offered a bleak reminder of the danger these makeshift electrical fixtures pose. A neighbour raised the alarm and the young couple inside escaped before their home was reduced to a charred husk.

Children burned to death

This near disaster has reminded some people of a fire in the south Dublin suburb of Carrickmines more than a year ago, which continues to cast a shadow over relations between the Traveller and the settled communities.

In the early hours of October 10, 2015, a fire ripped through a halting site killing 10 people, including five children, from two families – the Lynch and Gilbert family and the Connors. The youngest victim was five months old. It was one of the deadliest fires in the history of the Republic of Ireland.

Social workers had raised concerns about the site’s substandard prefabricated units to authorities in the months before the fire, but no action was taken. The blaze and its aftermath would, for many, become an example of the pervasive discrimination Travellers face in Ireland today.

Three days after the fire, some locals blockaded land marked for temporary accommodation for the surviving members of the Connors family, preventing construction vehicles from entering. Though the obstruction was condemned by then Environment Minister Alan Kelly and several Traveller groups, the protesters were successful.

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On October 21, one day before the last victims were buried, the county council announced that the Connors family would instead be resettled on a reclaimed dump on council land in a nearby suburb. At the time of writing, the family remain in that location.

Alongside many expressions of grief on social media after the fire were comments highlighting the discrimination towards travellers in Irish society.

On one popular news site, a comment simply wishing that the victims rest in peace received hundreds of thumbs down votes from other readers. “Hundreds of Irish people gave a thumbs down to an expression of sympathy for children who were burned to death,” says MacLochlainn. “That’s terrifying; that’s absolutely terrifying.”

In response to the tragedy, local authorities across the country conducted fire safety audits at Traveller accommodation sites. “All we got was a few fire alarms, a few fire blankets and some carbon monoxide alarms,” says Collins, of Pavee Point.

“That’s like re-arranging the chairs on the Titanic. That’s totally inadequate. These sites need to be completely redeveloped [and] refurbished, because the sites are just inherently dangerous. Getting a few fire alarms and a few hoses will not rectify the situation.”

For Collins, the long overdue recognition of Traveller ethnicity is an important milestone, but as the Carrickmines example shows, a commitment to materially improving the lives of Travellers is also necessary if they are to be truly equal in their own country.

Tracing your Irish ancestry - The Kelly clan

Learn interesting facts about the kelly family name, its origin, and famous clan members..

Everything you need to know about the Irish surname Kelly - its meaning, origins, interesting facts and famous people with the last name Kelly.

Irish derivation: Ó Ceallaigh.

Name meaning: Descendant of Ceallach," "bright-haired," or "troublesome."

Counties associated with the name: Armagh, Carlow, Clare , Derry, Donegal , Dublin, Galway , Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo , Meath, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary , Tyrone, Waterford, Westmeath, and Wicklow.

Coat of arms motto: God is a strong tower to me.

Interesting facts:

• Second most common name in Ireland, behind Murphy.
• There are more Kellys in the US and in Britain respectively than in Ireland.
• Australian sailors whose surnames are Kelly are nicknamed "Ned" after the famed outlaw.
• It is not only in the top 100 surnames in the US but also in the top 100 first names.

Some famous Kellys:

• Gene Kelly (1912-1996, American actor)
• Grace Kelly (1929-1982, American actor)
• Minka Kelly (1980, American actor)
• Ned Kelly (1855-1880, Australian outlaw)
• Ellsworth Kelly - one of America's great 20th-century artists
• Machine Gun Kelly - American bootlegger, bank robber, and kidnapper
• Chris Kelly - America rapper; one half of the rap duo Kris Kross, best known for their 1992 song "Jump."

History of the Kelly name

"The original Gaelic form of the name Kelly is O Ceallaigh or Mac Ceallaigh", according to Ireland's House of Names . "These names denote descendants of Ceallach. This personal name may be derived from the word 'ceallach', which means 'strife.'"

They continue "The surname Kelly was first found in southwest Ireland, south of Dublin where they held a family seat from very ancient times. The Kelly surname is conjecturally descended from King Colla da Crioch, who died in 357 A.D."

Are you a part of the Kelly clan? Let us know in the comments, below!

• What are the top 100 Irish last names?
• This home and historic island in County Donegal is for sale

* Originally published in 2014, updated in Sept 2022.

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A Family Tradition: Traditional Irish Music From The Kelly Family

By the kelly family.

• Patsy Geary’s An Lá I Ndiaidh An Aonaigh
• The Cabin Hunter Delia Crowley’s
• Shores Of Lough Gowna The Wheels Of The World
• Scattery Island Siney Crotty’s John Kelly’s
• Raghadsa Is Mo Cheaití Ned Stapleton’s
• The Humours Of Carrigaholt The Traveller
• The Humours Of Kilclougher Elizabeth Kelly’s Delight
• Mary Brennan’s The Humours Of Tullycrine Mickey Callaghan’s
• Porthole Of The Kelp Farewell To Ireland
• The Cliffs Of Moher Miller’s Maggot
• The Old Concertina Tom Keane’s
• Cailíní An Fhactory
• Brian O’Lynn Delia Keane’s Mickey Callaghan’s
• The Ebb Tide John Kelly’s
• The Humours Of Quilty Andily’s
• Toss The Feathers Maids Of Mitchelstown Miss Johnston’s

One comment

This album is a tribute to the late John Kelly Snr of West Clare and Dublin, and his sons and grandchildren together with their spouses play tunes associated with him. John Kelly Jnr: fiddle James Kelly: fiddle Johnny Kelly: fiddle Leah Kelly: fiddle Aoife Kelly: concertina Cathy Potter: harp Charlie Le Brun: flute https://johnkellycapelstreet.ie/product/a-family-tradition-cd/ https://custysmusic.com/products/traditional-irish-music-from-the-kelly-family-h4-a-family-tradition

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Origin and meaning behind the Irish surname Kelly

Kelly is one of the most common family names in Ireland

• 15:26, 14 SEP 2023

Surnames are the first port of call for anyone looking into their family history. Irish last names are particularly revealing and can tell you a lot about the clan you come from.

Like many cultures around the world, Gaelic Ireland operated on a system of patronymic names, meaning children and descendants got their last name from their father or paternal ancestor.

Irish last names can thereby tell you a lot about the family's primary male ancestor. The meanings behind the name often give an insight into where this man came from or the role he played in society.

Read more: Why so many Irish last names start with Mc and O'

Read more: Irish last names that suggest what job your ancestors had

The name Kelly is an Anglicization of the Irish last name Ó Ceallaigh. The Ó prefix literally translates to "from" and denotes a descendant.

The name thereby means "descendant of Ceallach". Ceallach is a given name that comes from the Irish word "ceall", a variation of the word "cill" which can mean a church or cell.

The name has roots in the northeast of Ireland as well as parts of Scotland. It's one of the most common surnames in Ireland and among the diaspora, with around half a million people worldwide sharing the name.

Many famous Americans bear the last name, from sports stars and coaches to former Fox News star Megyn Kelly. The most famous Kelly of all time, though, was Irish American actress and Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly.

Princess Grace grew up in an Irish American household in Philadelphia . Her father, Olympic gold medalist John Kelly, was the son of Irish immigrants from Co Mayo .

The name Kelly is also now commonly used as a first name for baby girls in English-speaking countries.

For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .

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Family affairs: How Ireland’s newly rich are putting money to work in secretive firms

As a result of sales of businesses, a plethora of family investment vehicles have sprung up in dublin in around fitzwilliam square and its adjacent streets.

Fitzwilliam Square in Dublin: the area has become home to a host of family investment vehicles in recent times. Photograph: Cyril Byrne

Engineer Barry English didn’t own his own home or even a car in 1994, when he joined a group of businessmen in giving Bertie Ahern a “dig-out” after the future taoiseach’s marriage broke down.

The then 28-year-old had returned to Ireland early that year after working abroad. He came into contact socially with Ahern’s pals, including builder Joe Burke, while networking, he would tell the Mahon Tribunal into payments to politicians 13 years later.

English contributed IR£5,000 (€6,349) to a £16,500 loan, even though he had only met Ahern on a handful of occasions by then. The amount “would not have been a lot to me personally at the time”, he told the tribunal.

Barry English leaving the Mahon Tribunal in Dublin Castle in 2007. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons

It would mean much less now, after English agreed last week to sell control of Winthrop Technologies, the engineering business he founded in 1995 which has become one of Europe’s biggest data centre developers. It currently has projects in Dublin, Warsaw, Amsterdam and Munich.

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US private equity group Blackstone’s planned purchase of a 50.7 per cent stake is said to value Winthrop, in which English currently owns a 65 per cent stake, at around €800 million. It will lead to a €260 million payday for him and an ongoing 32 per cent interest valued at the same level.

Much of the proceeds are bound to make their way to a family investment vehicle – or family office – that English set up seven years ago, named Penman Securities Trading.

Many family offices continue to invest in companies in areas where the principal is an expert. They have natural networks in that area

Funded by scores of millions of euro of Winthrop dividends in recent years, Penman had €162 million of current assets at the end of 2022, up from €40 million a year, earlier, according to its most recent accounts filed with the Companies Registration Office (CRO).

Some €6.12 million was invested in stocks, exchange traded funds and investments, a further €5.64 million in private equity investments and almost €150 million in cash. English declined, through a spokeswoman, to comment on his plans for the money.

Penman, based on Fitzwilliam Square, is among a plethora of such businesses that have sprung up in Dublin in the past decade or so around the Georgian garden square, its offshoot streets Fitzwilliam Place and Pembrook Street Lower, and nearby Merrion Square. They have typically been set up following multimillion-euro business sales as founders sought to retain tight control over subsequent investments.

Mark Turley, chief executive of Clonbio, pictured with its chairman Richie Boucher. Photograph: Shane O’Neill/Coalesce

The Guinness family may have been an international pioneer in the family office space, when Arthur Guinness’s great-grandson, Edward, set up Iveagh Trustees to manage the proceeds of the brewing group’s £5 million initial public offering (IPO) in London in 1886. But 138 years later, the home of the black stuff is a laggard in the field.

“Most family offices in Ireland are first-generation ones, as it is really only in the last few decades that we have seen serious wealth creation in the State. The family offices that we have seen being set up over the past 10 years have largely come from the sale of businesses,” said Damian Roddy, head of capital markets at Davy.

“We remain a long way off having the types of family offices you see in countries in Europe, like Switzerland, the UK or Germany, where the initial wealth-creation event may have happened generations ago.”

Walmart fortune

Walton Enterprises in Arkansas is the largest family office in the world, with almost $225 billion (€211 billion) of assets. It was set up in 1983 by Walmart founder Sam Walton and is now controlled by heirs to his retailing empire. Europe’s largest is the Italian chocolate-making Ferrero family’s $55 billion Fedesa vehicle in Monaco.

The number of family offices globally has tripled in the past five years to 4,500 which, between them, now manage at least $6 trillion in funds, according to a recent report from Preqin, the UK investment data firm.

Penman, where investments professional Fergal Scully is managing director and former Davy man Roland French joined last year as an analyst, is a rare animal among Irish family offices in disclosing even limited financial details in CRO filings.

“What upside is there to me discussing our investments?” said the principal of another family office, who declined to be identified.

Discretion is key, even if slivers of activity – like property deals and share purchases that breach disclosable levels – find their way into the public domain.

“The family office structure can ensure privacy and confidentiality as you can keep all the family’s portfolio activity, tax and personal information in-house, enabling the family to operate discreetly if they so wish,” said John Mullane, chief investment officer with Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland.

Players in Dublin are reluctant to even guess the scale of the domestic market, as few know what is really going on beyond their own patch. The minimum needed to justify setting up a family office, staffed with anywhere between five and 20 employees, is about €100 million, they say.

“There is a saying in this sector that if you’ve met one family office, you’ve met one family office. Each one is different,” said Karl Rogers, chief investment officer at investment firm Elkstone, which has a family office business managing the money of its general partners and also invests on behalf of other high-net-worth individuals.

The family offices that we have seen being set up over the past 10 years have largely come from the sale of businesses

“But while investment portfolios of retail or mass-affluent investors would have high levels of publicly-traded securities like equities and bonds, there is typically a higher skewing of family office investments towards alternative assets.”

Two doors down from Penman is Barrymore Investments, set up in 2011 by Waterford pharmacist Seamus Mulligan, a former Elan executive who helped save the group in the early 2000s by flogging $2 billion of assets.

The low-profile entrepreneur would go on to merge Azur Pharma, a company he founded in 2005, with Nasdaq-listed Jazz Pharmaceuticals in a stock-based deal in early 2012, before subsequently raising about $99 million months later from the sale of a bunch of shares.

He retains a Jazz stake worth almost $130 million even after other share sales over the past 11 years – much of it used to fund his subsequent main enterprise, Adapt Pharma. Mulligan is estimated to have made more than $500 million from the 2018 sale of Adapt, which developed a nasal spray to reverse opioid overdoses.

Barely 100 metres away on Pembroke Street is Sencheer Holdings, the investment vehicle of the family of the late Feargal Quinn, who sold retailer Superquinn in 2005 for about €450 million. The Quinns’ investments range from property to a stake in aviation entrepreneur Donal Slattery’s Claret Capital investment firm, which structures its deals through special purpose entities, and interests in the likes of cloud and cybersecurity company Ekco, funds administrator Alchelyst, and indoor adventure centre GoQuest in Carrickmines.

Feargal Quinn: the late supermarket tycoon's family run the investment vehicle Sencheer Holdings.

Irish newcomers

Nearby Merrion Square is home to two newcomers who have made a splash: ecommerce multimillionaire Tommy Kelly’s Castlegate Investments and waste king Eamon Waters’s Sretaw Private Equity.

Kelly established Castlegate in 2021 following the sale of his ecommerce company ESW, formerly eShopWorld, in two stages which is estimated to have made him as much as €600 million. He hired the former long-time head of Goodbody Stockbrokers, Roy Barrett, to set up the office and put an estimated €500 million-plus to work across a diversified portfolio of shares in public and privately-held companies, bonds, property, infrastructure and private equity funds. Barrett stepped down late last year as Kelly took a more hands-on role.

Tommy Kelly sold the ecommerce company ESW, formerly eShopWorld, for an estimated €600 million. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

High-profile assets include estate agents Sherry Fitzgerald, almost 4 per cent of Dublin-listed Cairn Homes, wearable sports analytics technology company Danu Sports and athleisure business Gym+Coffee. Kelly also built up a 4 per cent stake in HealthBeacon, the medical technology company that floated in 2021 but went into examinership last year.

You can keep all the family’s portfolio activity, tax and personal information in-house, enabling the family to operate discreetly if they so wish

Waters set up Sretaw after he sold Beauparc Utilities, the holding company of the Panda and Greenstar waste firms, three years ago to Macquarie Infrastructure Fund in a deal worth €1.4 billion. New York investment giant Blackstone had a minority 37.6 per cent Beauparc stake at the time of the sale, with the remainder almost entirely in the hands of Waters.

Sretaw has been among the most active players in Dublin’s commercial property market in the past few years. Deals include the €74 million purchase of the Royal Hibernian Way on Dublin’s Dawson Street, the €28 million acquisition of the Victoria’s Secret outlet on Grafton Street, and the acquisition earlier this year of the Chancery Building office block for a knock-down €14 million.

Hospitality interests include the 127-bed Grafton Hotel and the new 147-bed Chancery Hotel.

Sretaw hired former Brewin Dolphin Ireland investment manager Des Doyle as managing director two years ago and, in January, former Davy trader John Hickey as head of research. It revealed this month that it now owns 4.01 per cent stake of Irish Ferries owner Irish Continental Group (ICG).

JP McManus: the Switzerland-domiciled billionaire has based his family office, Liberties Strategic Services, in Geneva. Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire

It has also accumulated a stake of more than 7 per cent in lender PTSB, 10.3 per cent of listed insurer FBD – which Sretaw’s chairwoman Fiona Muldoon once led – and 2.8 per cent of Dalata Hotel Group.

Elsewhere, businessman Nick Furlong’s Pageant Investments, set up almost 20 years ago after he sold his DVD and video games business to DCC for €35 million, has long been among the most active family offices in Irish stocks.

Current holdings include 8.3 per cent of airline retail software company Datalex (in addition to 3 per cent owned directly by Furlong), 3.3 per cent of titanium minerals miner Kenmare Resources, and 9.4 per cent of Donegal Investment Group (DIG), an agribusiness that is essentially in wind-down. Furlong owns a further 3.2 per cent of DIG.

The outsized bets that some family offices have taken on individual stocks mirror the type of conviction that entrepreneurs must have building up their own businesses, according to sources in the sector.

There is typically a higher skewing of family office investments towards alternative assets

Other factors are at play, too. “Some of this is down to a significant decline in research coverage of smaller companies by brokerage firms in recent decades, driven by a variety of factors,” said Mullane at Cantor. “This has presented an opportunity for family offices, which have undertaken their own in-house research, to capitalise on perceived mispricing to take sizeable stakes in listed corporates.”

Beef baron Larry Goodman has been no stranger to dipping his toes in the Irish stock market. He used his Vevan vehicle to invest in Independent News & Media and Green Reit, before they were each taken over in 2019. He subsequently built up a stake in Barryroe Offshore Energy, before taking over the entire company late last year after sponsoring it through examinership.

Larry Goodman: the beef baron hired Edward O’Flynn, a former trader with Davy and Goodbody Stockbrokers, last October to help manage the quoted shares portfolio of his Parma Investments family office. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin

Now in his late 80s, Goodman hired Edward O’Flynn, a former trader with Davy and Goodbody Stockbrokers, last October to help manage the quoted shares portfolio of his Parma Investments family office, whose other interests span property to the Blackrock, Hermitage and Galway private hospitals.

Kelly, Waters, Furlong and Goodman declined, through representatives, to comment on their investments.

Dublin’s fledgling family office scene, for now, lacks the well-established networking groups of London and New York.

“Contacts here are much more informal,” said Rogers of Elkstone. “When you consider that each family office has been set up by a businessperson and expert in one area, many family offices continue to invest in companies in areas where the principal is an expert. They have natural networks in that area.”

One of the more established firms is Irelandia, an aviation-focused vehicle of the family of the GPA and Ryanair founder Tony. It was founded in the early 1990s by the middle of his three sons, Declan.

Elswhere, down the street from Pageant on Fitzwilliam Place is Shannonbridge Investments, a vehicle owned by brothers Greg, Mark and Niall Turley after they made about €200 million from the sale of car rental technology company Cartrawler between 2011 and 2014.

There is a saying in this sector that if you’ve met one family office, you’ve met one family office. Each one is different

Kingspan founder Eugene Murtagh’s family has long managed investments through a company called Carraig Capital, where tax expert Eugene McQuillan is a director. Paul, one of Murtagh’s sons and a former investment banker with Merrill Lynch, heads the family-owned scientific industries company Tibidabo.

Eugene Murtagh, founder of Kingspan: his family manage their investments through a firm named Carraig Capital. Photograph: Cyril Byrne

Other firms include Kellysan Enterprises, the vehicle of businessman Noel Kelly, a former executive and shareholder of engineering and construction company Kentz, who made tens of millions of euro selling shares between its 2007 IPO and subsequent sale seven years later; Killeen Group, owned by the Mahony family behind the Irish Toyota and Lexus franchise; and Volnay, set up by the late green energy entrepreneur Eddie O’Connor, founder of Airtricity and Mainstream Renewable Power.

Billionaire businessman JP McManus, meanwhile, has based his family office, Liberties Strategic Services, in Geneva.

Family factions

Most single-family offices ultimately become multifamily offices as assets are passed down through generations. “That requires a huge amount of structuring and drawing-up of charters,” said Rogers. “Different generations would have different investment appetites and needs.”

The Guinnesses offer a cautionary tale. Four generations after Iveagh Trustees was set up, the family office was disbanded in 2005, after a series of disagreements between factions of about 75 family members over how it should be run.

A chunk of the money found its way to a UK hedge funds specialist, Arundel Partners, which would be renamed Arundel Iveagh and, subsequently, in 2007, just Iveagh Ltd.

The business was sold on 10 years ago – resulting in the Iveagh name vanishing from the investment world.

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Joe Brennan is Markets Correspondent of The Irish Times

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