Twin brothers celebrate 70th anniversary of entering priesthood
Frs Joe and Matt Kelly greeting Joni Keenan, Shay Keenan and Lucia Rocca after the special mass for their platinum jubilee. Photo: John Mc Elroy
TWIN brothers have marked the Platinum Jubilee of their 1956 ordination to the diocesan priesthood.
Knockbeg College past-pupils Joe and Matt Kelly from Co Kildare marked 70 years of service at a special ceremony on Sunday 17 May.
To honour their jubilee, a special Mass led by Archbishop Dermot Farrell, Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin was concelebrated at the Church of the Resurrection in Bayside, Dublin.
Father Joe has served in the Archdiocese of Dublin throughout his long ministry, while Father Matt served in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.
They were born on 31 March 1931 in Coolcarrigan, near Blackwood and attended primary school in Timahoe, Co Kildare, where their mother was a teacher.
Their father had a grocery shop in the area and the boys, along with their two brothers and two sisters, spent time there growing up. For secondary school, they both attended St Mary’s, Knockbeg College in Co Carlow.
After three years, Joe joined Matt in Maynooth up to ordination time. Fr Joe was ordained for the Archdiocese of Dublin in May 1956 and Fr Matt was ordained for the Kildare and Leighlin Diocese in June 1956.
