Hello All,

I was wondering what any of you have learned about the Kelleys in general since forming this group?

Have any of you noticed any common or predominent traits among those with the Kelley name?

Since Kelley is one of the most common names in Ireland, how many geneations does one generally have to go back before they come across a common ancestor or relative?

During the the famine which I believe cut the population in half from emigration and starvation and disease, have you done a study on how many Kelley families survived that?

In America,the older generation would talk about the great depression, but the lessons of the great depression in AMerica were quickly forgotten. Does the famine have any lasting impact on teh Irish people today? Or is it mostly just something in a history book?

Hi Blake,
Many thanks for your inquiry.

One thing we have learned is what a wonderful people we are!

The number of generations to go back to to find a common ancestor can be any number. For instance I know of two Kellys in Ireland who knew each other and did not know that they were related found that they had the same grandparents.
I have recently found cousins in Australia who had common ancestors with me twelve generators back.

I am not aware of any studies on the question of how many Kellys died during the famine. My own opinion is that it would be to a great extent guesswork as keeping records was not a priority of the Government of the day.
In fact when the Prime Minister was pressed as to what action he was going to put in place to help the starving people in Ireland he stated that 'if we give them food now we will have to support them indefinitely.' He also stated when pressed further 'I am fed up with the Irish Question' and went for a two week holiday to France!
Of course the famine has a lasting impact and it would have been a factor in the Irish Republic fighting for and winning independence. But I would add that there is no bitterness remaining and the fact that c.half a million Irishmen fought for Britain in two World Wars should indicate this. Slainte.