He served as the 34th President of the Gaelic Athletic Association from 2003 to 2006. He was the first person from County Kerry to hold the office, being elected at his first attempt by a record margin at the GAA Congress in 2002. In July 2006, he took up the position of Executive Chairman of the Irish Institute of Sport, a body that was set up in Ireland to support elite athletes and players, and served as Executive President until he announced his resignation in July 2008.[2]
Early and personal life
Kelly was born in Knockataggle, Kilcummin, Killarney, County Kerry in 1952. He was born into a family that was deeply involved in the Gaelic Athletic Association. His grandfather had been chairman of the local club and his four uncles had distinguished playing careers, with his uncle, also Seán Kelly, starring at full-forward for Kerry in their All-Ireland Championship success over Armagh in 1953. He is a first cousin to Fionnuala O'Kelly, wife of former TaoiseachEnda Kenny.[3]
Before being elected president of the GAA he served as chairman of the East Kerry from 1975 to 1987 and County Kerry Boards from 1987 to 1997 and Munster Council from 1997 to 2000. He also was one of the founding members of the St Patrick's (East Kerry) hurling team in 1984. As county chairman, he founded the Kerry GAA Supporters' Club in 1987.[4]
As the first person from County Kerry to hold the office of President of the Gaelic Athletic Association, his presidency is seen as a landmark one in moving forward the Association on so many fronts with the introduction of Christy Ring Cup and Nicky Rackard Cup, Tommy Murphy Cup, All-Ireland Junior and Intermediate Championships, he also oversaw the completion of the Croke Park re-development through the completion of Hill 16/Northern end and the building of the Croke Park Jury's Hotel. He introduced the President's Awards and developed a great working relationship with the GPA and initiated major improvements in player welfare matters.
Concluding his career in the GAA he published an autobiography in 2007, titled "Rule 42 and all that".[5]
Kelly has lobbied to end the bi-annual clock change in the EU,[11] but is in favour of Ireland's adoption of year-round summertime or Central European Time instead of its present, closer to solar time, Western European Time,[12] which is precisely the most detrimental time arrangement to human health according to recent chronobiological studies.[13]
Kelly is known for his frequent use of the Irish Language in the European Parliament. In January 2022, he submitted the first amendment to EU legislation that was written in the Irish Language.[15]
Kelly ran for re-election at the 2024 European Parliament election in Ireland with running mate John Mullins.[16] Kelly was re-elected on the first count, topping the poll with 122,777 (17.8%) first preference votes .[17]
References
^"Seán Kelly". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2009.