Hughie Kelly 1927 -2013
The death has occurred today (Tuesday 2nd April 2013) of Hughie Kelly aged 85 years.
Hughie Kelly was the Honorary President of Strabane Sigersons for many years having won a Tyrone Senior Championship medal with the great Strabane Lámh Dhearg side of 1945 that defeated Dungannon to win the O’Neill Cup. At just eighteen years of age he played alongside the likes of Frank Harte, James MacIntyre, George McGill, Sean Small, Dermot Gallagher, Tommy Barnes, Eddie Lynch, Josel McNulty, Dermot Harkin, Seamus Garvey and Liam McDevitt.
A native of Urney he was a great servant to both the Strabane and Urney clubs for many years and was also was a member of the breakthrough Tyrone side of 1956 that won the county’s first ever Ulster Senior Football Championship title (Anglo Celt Cup). He had played with Tyrone since 1945 and was somewhat of a veteran of the 1956 side playing alongside greats such as Jody O’Neill, Frankie Donnelly, Iggy Jones Thady Turbett, Jim Devlin, John-Joe O’Hagan, Pat Donaghy, Jackie Taggart, Mick Cushnahan and Donal Donnelly.
He was renowned for being a tough no nonsense footballer who was known far and wide and even after his playing career finished he went on to serve the G.A.A. as a referee and also as a very capable administrator serving as Chairperson of the West Tyrone Board from 1953-1958 and for several years was the Ulster Council delegate for Tyrone.
In 2011 Hughie Kelly was presented with the Hall of Fame Award at the People First Sports Awards organised by Strabane District Sports Forum for his services to the G.A.A.
Hughie Kelly was a legend in North Tyrone via his involvement in the G.A.A. with his native Urney, Strabane and Tyrone and will be sorely missed by all who knew him – Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Aodhán Harkin
Hughie pictured when the Sam Maguire Cup made its first ever visit to Strabane Sigersons clubrooms, Brian Dooher and Conor Gormley are alongside him.
