Dolores Kelly

Dolores Kelly
Deputy leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party
In office
2011–2015
LeaderAlasdair McDonnell
Preceded byPatsy McGlone
Succeeded byFearghal McKinney
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Upper Bann
In office
2 March 2017 – 27 March 2022
Preceded byCatherine Seeley
Succeeded byEóin Tennyson
In office
26 November 2003 – 30 March 2016
Preceded byBríd Rodgers
Succeeded byCatherine Seeley
Member of
Craigavon Borough Council
In office
19 May 1993 – 5 May 2011
Preceded byCatherine McStravick
Succeeded byJoe Nelson
ConstituencyLoughside
Personal details
Born (1959-09-03) 3 September 1959 (age 65)
Aghalee, Northern Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partySDLP
SpouseEamon Kelly
Children4
Residence(s)Lurgan, County Armagh
Alma materUniversity of Ulster
ProfessionOccupational therapist
WebsiteSDLP profile

Mary Dolores Kelly (born 3 September 1959) is an Irish nationalist former politician who served as deputy leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) from 2011 to 2015. She was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA)[1] for Upper Bann from 2003 until 2016, and again from 2017 until 2022. She was succeeded by Eóin Tennyson in 2022.

Background

Dolores Kelly attended St Michael's Grammar School, Lurgan and then the University of Ulster, Jordanstown. She worked as an occupational therapist in the Craigavon Area Hospital and in social services in Banbridge. She married Eamon Kelly in 1982 and has four children.[2]

Political career

In May 1993, she was first elected to Craigavon Borough Council for the Loughside District. She sat on all committees and was chair of Technical Services and Environmental Services. In 1996, she was an unsuccessful candidate in the Northern Ireland Forum election in Upper Bann.[3]

In May 1997, she was re-elected to Craigavon Borough. She was elected deputy mayor in 1998 and, from 1999 to 2000, was the first SDLP mayor of Craigavon.[4] Kelly was also deputy leader of the SDLP from 2011 to 2015.[5]

In 2004, Kelly was the target of death threats from dissident Republicans and her home was attacked.[6] In 2009, Kelly was threatened by a masked gunman while canvassing in the Kilwilkie estate in Lurgan.[2]

In 2003, Kelly was elected to Northern Ireland Assembly for Upper Bann. She was a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.[7] She lost her seat in the 2016 Assembly election[8] but regained it and rejoined the Policing Board in 2017, at the expense of Sinn Féin.

She lost her seat in the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election.[9]

Political positions

Kelly has called for the establishment of an all-island registry for those convicted of animal cruelty.[10]

References

  1. ^ BBC television programme Northern Ireland Assembly: 31 January 2009
  2. ^ a b McNeilly, Claire (19 February 2018). "Dolores Kelly: 'I was eight months pregnant when police came to my door to say an SDLP councillor's home was to be targeted that night. After that, I had to learn how to search for car bombs'". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  3. ^ "1996 Forum Elections: Candidates in Upper Bann". Ark. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  4. ^ "SDLP woman elected mayor". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  5. ^ Amanda Ferguson. "Upper Bann: SDLP's Dolores Kelly back in the game". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  6. ^ "SDLP woman's home attacked in Co Armagh". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  7. ^ "The Board". Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  8. ^ "BBC NI Election 2016". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Winners and losers of historic Northern Ireland Assembly election 2022". Belfast Telegraph.
  10. ^ Carmel Robinson (24 May 2021). "SDLP calls for all-island animal cruelty register". Farming Life. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
Civic offices
Preceded by Mayor of Craigavon
1999–2000 		Succeeded by
Fred Crowe
Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by MLA for Upper Bann
2003–2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by MLA for Upper Bann
2017–2022 		Succeeded by