‘True leader’ and ‘gentleman supreme’ fondly remembered

The late Eamon (Ted) Kelly of Dysart is being remembered as a “true leader” and a “great community person” who loved his locality and could turn his hand to anything.

Mr Kelly, who died on December 28 in the loving care of Galway Hospice, came to prominence as the leader of a local opposition group to a major windfarm mooted for parts of Dysart, Brideswell and Taughmaconnell as far back as 2010.

Heading up the Wind Turbine Action Group South Roscommon group for many years, the local farmer famously took the High Court case in 2014, which overturned An Bord Pleanála's approval for what was then called Seven Hills Wind Farm.

In 2020, when the scheme plans were revived by Energia, Ted as he was best known, vowed to “to fight even more vigorously than last time” plans for the €100 million wind farm in an area of South Roscommon countryside he loved so much.

He was much admired for his leadership qualities and inspired many people with his passion and kindness.

“Ted was a true leader with vision, passion, determination and courage. He always rose to the challenge and inspired others around him. He brought the best out in everyone and fought for what he believed in. Ted was a true gentleman and will be sadly missed by us all,” the Wind Turbine Action Group South Roscommon group said in tribute in their condolence message on the rip.ie website.

Independent Cllr Tony Ward remembered his good friend as a “great community person over the years” who will be much missed in the Dysart/Taughmaconnell area for his neighbourliness and obliging nature.

“He put a lot of time and effort into opposing the wind turbines. At the time, he put his farm of land on the table, he that passionate about it, and believed in the area. He understood the damage the wind turbines would do to the area,” the Independent public representative said in tribute to Ted.

“He served the community well. He was a man with great skills and abilities, including stonework. I was in his beautiful home in Derrycahill which he restored and did all the work himself."

He extended his sympathies to Ted Kelly's family on their sad loss.

“Ted was a gentleman supreme and he's a big loss to the area. He was very fortunate with his skillset and personal abilities,” something that is referenced many times in the many condolence messages on rip.ie, which recalled fondly a gentleman who was known for his generosity, his skills with his hands, and his warm welcome for visitors to the restored cottage he was so rightly proud of.

Indeed, in the summer of 2020, he invited the Westmeath Independent to come and view his loving restoration of his grandparents' cottage which dated back to the 1800s. A cowshed when he started, Ted's labour of love brought Alice and Williamland as he called it, back to its former glory in a fitting tribute to Ted's grandparents – Alice and William Cruise. Like walking back in time, the picture-perfect cottage had huge authenticity, from the beautiful beamed ceiling to the red half-door, the two impressive loft bedrooms or the large farmhouse dresser and the pots hanging over the open fire.

Most impressive of all though was the fact Ted had done all of the restoration work himself, including the thatching. A farmer, he had done bits of building and stonework over the years, and joked when it was suggested he must be fairly handy, he quipped that like the old saying he is “as handy as a small pot on a big fire” with a mischievous glint in his eye.

Once complete, he enjoyed nothing more than showing people around in 'open house' style with tea and a lovely chat.

“My grandparents were so happy for people to come in and out. The whole of Derrycahill, Dysart was like that. I remember the ghost stories,” he laughed heartily.

One of 16 in family, Ted grew up about a mile from Dysart, the son of Tom and Annie Kelly (nee Cruise) who both left Derrycahill for Dysart in 1929. Ted or Eamon as he is also known left school at 13 when his father was left paralysed and he took over the farm.

He said at the time that locals and his family were delighted with what he has done with the old house to bring it back as were the hundreds of visitors who had come for a tour.

“I just love it, I feel so at home here,” he said back in August of 2020, adding that all he wanted was to share this beautiful place with other people. “I love people coming....I don't do Airbnb but anyone is welcome to stay. I didn't do this to make money. I did this for my grandparents really,” he concluded, and it certainly is a fitting legacy not only their memory, but now to Ted's toom

He is survived by his wife Christina, daughters Bernadette and Grace (Borrisokane), sons Des and Rory, son-in-law John, daughter-in-law Irene, mother-in-law Dina, grandchildren Tara, Rían, Oran, Ornagh, Laoise and Senan, brothers Tommy (Lanesboro), Jimmy (Isle of Man), Dan (Birmingham), and Richard (Ballyforan), sisters Margaret Lindley (Manchester), Mary Haddler (Northhampton) and Catherine Gallagher (Curraghboy), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends.