Michael Kelly (Irish journalist)

Man standing outside building.
Michael Kelly in this 2024 file photo.

Michael Kelly (born 1979) is an Irish former newspaper editor. Before taking up appointment as Director of Public Affairs for the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need,[1] he was editor of the weekly newspaper The Irish Catholic and a columnist with the Irish Independent.[2] and a regular contributor to RTÉ and the BBC[3]

Kelly is from Omagh, County Tyrone, and attended St Patrick's High school, Omagh and later St Patrick's College, Maynooth, where he studied for a post-graduate degree in theology.[4] He worked as a producer and redactor for Vatican Radio in Rome, and served as Rome correspondent for The Irish Catholic. He returned to Ireland in 2005. He was appointed deputy editor of The Irish Catholic in 2007.

In October 2012, aged 33, he was appointed editor of The Irish Catholic, succeeding Garry O'Sullivan.[5] He regularly appears as a guest contributor on TV and radio on religious topics. He has appeared on the BBC, UTV, CNN and Al Jazeera.[6] He has made contributions to the American publications National Catholic Reporter,[7] Our Sunday Visitor and The Catholic World Report the UK's Catholic Herald as well as Irish newspapers including the Irish Independent, Irish Examiner and The Irish News.[6][8][9]

Kelly is a regular visitor and tour guide to the Holy Land.[10], and is author of the book A Pilgrim Guide to the Holy Land[11] He was leading a group of Irish pilgrims on October 7, 2023 when the Hamas attacks happened in southern Israel.[12] The pilgrims later travelled home on a commercial flight, and Kelly was airlifted by the Royal Netherlands Air Force.[13]

In May 2024, it was announced that Kelly had been appointed Director of Public Affairs for the Pontifical Foundation, Aid to the Church in Need, Ireland.[14]

Kelly divides his time between his native Tyrone, Dublin, Rome and Jerusalem.

He is a regular voice on RTÉ providing commentary for major religious and Vatican events. He also regularly presents Prayer for the Day on BBC Radio Four.[15]

Kelly is known for his pro-life views, and has advocated for support for the right to life of unborn children as well as their mothers.[16] He has also advocated against assisted suicide, warning that it is a slippery slope.[17]

  1. ^ "Omagh man is new Director of Public Affairs with Aid to the Church in Need Ireland". www.tyronecon.co.uk. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  2. ^ Profile Michael Kelly Editor, The Irish Catholic
  3. ^ "Michael Kelly, Author at The Irish Catholic". The Irish Catholic. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Our Team". Religious Press and Media group. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017.
  5. ^ "Irish Catholic Newspaper appoints new editor". Independent Catholic News. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Profile: Michael Kelly". Kennedy Summer School.
  7. ^ Michael Kelly National Catholic Reporter Articles
  8. ^ Changing of the Catholic Votes in Northern Ireland? by Michael Kelly, Catholic World Report, 24 April 2015
  9. ^ Articles by Michael Kelly The Catholic Herald (UK)
  10. ^ "Temporary Title". Catholic Standard. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Experience the Holy Land this Christmas..." The Irish News. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Our bus driver is Palestinian and he is horrified, says pilgrimage leader from NI". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 9 October 2023. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Irish journalist evacuated from Israel as ground operation into Gaza expected". The Irish News. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  14. ^ Garde, Chah (1 May 2024). "Michael Kelly appointed Director of Public Affairs for the Irish office of the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need". Catholic News. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  15. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Prayer for the Day, This is the best day of my life". BBC. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  16. ^ Kelly, Michael (7 March 2024). "No one should be afraid of hearing different opinions". The Irish Catholic. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Michael Kelly: Why world-class end-of-life care should be our priority... not the slippery slope towards euthanasia". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 26 January 2019. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 25 September 2024.