Peter Burrowes Kelly

By Patrick F. Meehan
Extracted from "Laois Yearbook" 1983

Peter Burrowes Kelly was born in Stradbally, County Laois in 1811, the son of John Kelly and his wife Miss Grace of Ballylinan, who was related to Graces of Gracefield, descendants of the Barons of Courtown. Mrs. Kelly became famous in her own right as the authoress of a number of novels including "The Fatalist" and "The Maiden of Erin". Peter B. Kelly was educated at Trinity College and Kings Inn where he was called to the Bar. For a while he went to London where he became a friend of the poet Thomas Cambell.

On his return to Ireland he became a Counsel on the Leinster Circuit. He joined Daniel O'Connell and contested the election in Queen's County in 1831 but was defeated. On the political platforms of the day he became a sought after speaker and one of Pat Lalor's foremost supporters.

He began writing, sending articles to the Dublin Review. His play "The Polish Mother", tragedy in five acts became a success. He married in 1842 Elizabeth Garves of Stradbally and the rest of their lives were spent in complete happiness. He was appointed Clerk of the Peace for Queen's County. His wife died in 1883 and he followed her within a few weeks and they were both buried in Oakvale Cemetery, Stradbally.

Peter Burrows Kelly's masterpiece was his novel published in three volumes "The Manor of Glenmore", or the "Irish Peasant". The book was based on fact and dealt with the Ballkillcavin evictions and the white feet outrages in Stradbally in the eighteen thirties.

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