Loving family man and natural born engineer

THE recent death in Kerry University Hospital of 69 year old John Kelly of Point’s Cross Cahirsiveen caused great sadness in his native place and beyond.

A man universally accepted as having a unique brain for everything mechanical, he was a true leader in his field. Whenever or wherever he was, there was a great presence about him. A friendly disposition and quick wit were hallmarks of the man throughout his life.

Born on May 2nd 1947 he, along with his sister Mary, were the children of Willie Kelly and Sis O’Donoghue of Waterville. Sadly John’s mother died when he was only two years old.

J.K, as he was affectionately known, enjoyed a colourful and distinguished career. Working life began for him as a 16 year old truck driver, from there to an apprentice mechanic. Then it was onto Dublin and Bolton Street College of Technology where he received top class marks in all his exams for fitting and welding. Even at that stage his college tutors recognised his ability. This was to lead him to Liebherr in Killarney for a number of years. In 1975 he decided to return home to Cahirsiveen and set up his own business, John Kelly Marine Servicing and Fabricating Ltd.

Unquestionably the biggest milestone in John’s life happened in 1969 in the Iveragh Ballroom where he met Phyllis Butler of Portmagee. They fell in love and married in 1974, going on to have five children together. He was always so proud of the support Phyllis gave him in every initiative he undertook and they remained a very loving and loyal couple to the end.

Since his death many stories have been recalled about John. Space does not allow to attempt to record. Simply there are too many, truly the hallmarks of a great character. At his funeral mass in the O’Connell Memorial Church celebrated by Canon Larry Kelly P.P, three of his children in a very moving eulogy gave a wonderful insight into the type of man their late father was. They said: “Dad was one in a million. He was a devoted husband, a supportive and loving father. He loved being the man to call on when you needed something or had a problem to solve. He had no value in money or material things. It meant more to him to give things away to someone that would value it. All in all he was an amazing person. His motto in life was that this is not a practice run, you only live once and if you do it right once is enough.”

John’s work was always a source of great pride to him. He revelled in problem solving and highly skilled work situations. He gave valuable and sterling service to the fishing community from Kilmore Quay to Kerry. He was a key figure in setting up Salmara in Caherdaniel.

Steam engines were another of his keen interests. Yet apart from all these things John always would remind you that they were secondary to the love and care of his wife and family, who were his pride and joy.

Over the last couple of years his health was failing and sadly on Tuesday, September 6, the curtain of life came down for him. The large and representative crowds that attended his obsequies bore testimony to the esteem in which he was held. Following Requiem Mass the funeral cortege went to the Island Crematorium in Cork for his final service. His wife, son and four daughters shouldered him on his final journey. His sisterin-law, presentation nun Sister Vera Butler led the mourners in prayer. The moving ceremony ended with Chloe O’Sullivan singing the Boys of Barr na Sráide in a farewell salute to a unique Cahirsiveen man.

He is survived by his wife Phyllis, son Liam, daughters Caroline, Mairéad, Deirdre and Sinéad. Sons-in-law Mike, Aidan, Declan and Noel, daughter-in-law Jenny, 11 grandchildren, his sister Mary, nieces, nephew, sisters-in-law and relatives.

Ní bheidh a leitheid ann arís.

The Late John Kelly