Northern Ireland

Ann Kelly: Pillar of Co Tyrone community had profound faith and deep humility

Ann Kelly with her husband Michael and son Michael at the launch of his book <em>How to Defend the Faith Without Raising Your Voice</em>
Ann Kelly with her husband Michael and son Michael at the launch of his book How to Defend the Faith Without Raising Your Voice Ann Kelly with her husband Michael and son Michael at the launch of his book How to Defend the Faith Without Raising Your Voice

It was love that brought Ann Cunningham to Omagh at the tender age of 18 in 1972 when she married local man Michael Kelly.

While she retained a lifelong affection for her native Dromore just nine miles away, it was in the county town of Tyrone where she would settle and raise her family.

Michael and Ann first made their home on the Derry Road, but a bomb attack on the nearby British army information office put paid to that as the property was severely damaged.

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive had just been established to bring an end to discrimination in the provision of housing and the Kelly family soon moved to the new Strathroy development on the edge of the town, while remaining parishioners at the Sacred Heart Church in the centre of Omagh.

It was a homecoming of sorts since Michael was born nearby and spent the first 11 years of his life in the area whilst it was still mostly farmland.

Among the first residents of the new community, Michael and Ann quickly identified the need for activities to build neighbourliness and cohesion.

They soon became pillars of the newly-formed Strathroy Community Association and were heavily involved in summer schemes, youth clubs, after-school projects, senior citizen clubs and various other activities.

Just a few weeks before she died, Ann celebrated 47 years of marriage to Michael Kelly
Just a few weeks before she died, Ann celebrated 47 years of marriage to Michael Kelly Just a few weeks before she died, Ann celebrated 47 years of marriage to Michael Kelly

Along with her husband, Ann passionately believed in young people and a fitting tribute was paid by a guard of honour from the local primary school, Christ the King, at her funeral Mass in the church of the same name.

The church was constructed in the late 1970s as the community continued to grow and the Kelly family grew as well.

Michael and Ann had five sons - Stephen, Damian, Shane, Michael and Rory - and became stalwarts of the new faith community that revolved around ‘the chapel’.

Many people have shared their memories of Ann and recalled wise words at a time when their young lives might have taken a turn for the worse at the height of the civil conflict we euphemistically call ‘the troubles’.

As well as her toil in the community, Ann worked in the Tyrone County Hospital for more than 40 years.

Colleagues remember her as a woman of deep humility who was always a shoulder to lean on in difficult times. More than a few people who met tragedy at the hospital recounted her gentle words of comfort at tough moments.

Ann Kelly
Ann Kelly Ann Kelly

Anne was immensely proud of her five children and nine grandchildren and loved telling people how they were getting on. She was not boastful, but simply delighted in seeing people doing well.

She was a woman of profound faith and when illness came, she bore it patiently and without complaining.

Her religion was not showy, but devout. She understood Catholicism as friendship with God and she wanted everyone to experience the deep impact that faith had on her.

She was also a woman of deep prayer, though usually in private. In good times and bad, she thumbed her rosary beads knowing that if everything was in God’s hands all would be well in the end.

Just a few weeks before she died, Ann celebrated 47 years of marriage to Michael.

She was a house proud woman and loved the home they made at Carnan Park. She died there – where she felt most safe and comfortable – in the early hours of September 22.

Her passing to the world that is to come was just how she lived her life: peaceful and unfussy, surrounded by her family.

Ann was blessed in her illness to see the depth of affection people had for her as each day brought fresh flowers, cards, Mass bouquets and many kind visitors.

Her funeral was a moving and beautiful occasion and heard a call for people to honour her memory by emulating her life of quiet simplicity.

A month’s mind Mass will be offered for Ann Kelly on Saturday October 26 at 10am in St Mary’s Church, Killyclogher.

Michael Kelly