EDDIE KELLY:EDDIE KELLY, who has died aged 81, was regarded as one of the last gentlemen photographers of the press in Ireland. His father introduced him to photography at an early age and brought him along to the photographic society as a boy, an interest that led to an ARPS qualification in the 1950s.
A motorbike accident in 1956 left him with sight in just one eye, but did not stop his passion for photography. He joined The Irish Times, filing negatives, in 1947. On days off he would spend his private time taking photographs, which he would sell to the newspaper. Eventually, as he was making more than his salary selling photographs, it was decided to appoint him as a staff photographer.
Features were Kelly’s speciality. He had an eye for capturing an alternate view, often including the photographers and the surrounding atmosphere rather than just the subject. An image of Jackie Onassis at a press meeting, for instance, would exude the frenzy of the event.
He was one of the very few press photographers to use a Leica, a camera perfectly suited to his style of lying in wait like a sleeping cat and pouncing on the image when all the right elements came together.
At a routine assignment covering a passing out parade, he came away with a remarkable image of a fainting soldier falling neatly along the line. He was very proud of his shot of President John F Kennedy’s cavalcade coming down O’Connell Street – a model of composition, lighting and timing.
He photographed five US presidents: Nixon, Eisenhower, Reagan, Carter and Kennedy, as well as Pope John Paul II. He met many celebrities, including Gene Kelly, Walt Disney, Kim Novak, Bob Hope and Princess Grace Kelly and family.
When he covered the funeral of Cardinal Conway in Armagh, there was an embarrassing moment – a gust of wind carried Eddie’s hat into the grave, along with the cardinal.
A dream assignment came when Ireland joined the EEC, and Kelly travelled throughout Europe documenting the different lifestyles of our new neighbours.
He was well known to many of the politicians in power in Ireland throughout his career. He sometimes suffered for his work. Once he was kicked accidentally on the football sidelines when a footballer missed a swing at the ball and caught him instead.
On another occasion, he took photographs of IRA prisoners being transported from Mountjoy Jail to the Curragh internment camp and suffered an arrest and a broken camera for his troubles.
Kelly’s professionalism was acknowledged when he became the first photographer to win the Slattery’s Photographer of the Year title. He went on to win many more prizes in the annual PPAI awards.
Kelly was always dapper in suit and hat, always a gentleman and, when opportunity allowed, he would ask permission to take his photograph. He was referred to as the “Last Gentleman of the Press” when he retired in 1990. He never went anywhere without his camera in case he would miss a poignant moment.
That camera and his trademark hat sat on his coffin at his funeral in January, when his death left his wife Ann, sons Diarmuid and Ciarán and daughter Catherine bereft, and deprived Ireland of a fine lensman.
Eddie Kelly: born July 6th, 1928; died January 6th, 2010