Michael Kelly
Communications and public affairs specialist Michael Kelly has more than 20 years experience as a trusted journalist, media commentator and in-demand public speaker. He has a proven track record of delivery and working with people across a broad spectrum.
Get to Know Me
A Trusted Communications Specialist
Michael Kelly is an award-winning writer and broadcaster specialising in commentary around politics, current events, religious and social affairs. Born and raised in Co. Tyrone, he spends his time between Dublin, Rome and Jerusalem and travels extensively for assignments. He has previously worked for the Vatican as a communications specialist, speech-writer and policy adviser. In 2005, he moved to Dublin to take up the position of Deputy Editor with The Irish Catholic newspaper, succeeding as Editor in 2012. In this role, he has carved a niche as a respected journalist, social commentator, media trainer, sought-after communications adviser and a respected voiceover artist.
Speaking Engagements
Inspiring fresh thinking
Michael Kelly is a sought-after keynote speaker and MC both in Ireland and abroad at conferences, events and seminars on a wide range of topics. He also frequently speaks to religious events, gatherings of clergy and parish missions and novenas.
Michael speaks on faith in public life, the place of the Church in modern Ireland, synodality, keys to understanding Pope Francis, passing on the Faith etc.
Media Training
Proven to Help You Get Your Message Across
Given his background in journalism and broadcasting, Michael Kelly is a media trainer and regularly gives sessions to groups and individuals on how to handle the media, write press releases and devise public relations strategies and campaigns.
He also prepares people for broadcast interviews, advises on communications in a crisis and helps organise press conferences and media launches.
He has worked with the voluntary, charity and not-for-profit sector in devising communications plans and executing strategies.
Michael is a skilled user of social media and offers courses on the effective use of social media, particularly for the non-profit and religious sectors.
He is a speech-writer on a wide variety of topics including public affairs, politics and international relations.
Writing
More Than 20 Years Experience of Telling Compelling Stories.
Michael Kelly is a regular contributor to programmes on BBC, RTÉ, UTV, CNN and Al Jazeera English. A former Editor of The Irish Catholic newspaper, he is a columnist with Ireland’s largest-selling mainstream newspaper the Irish Independent and Northern Ireland’s respected daily newspaper the Belfast Telegraph. He has been published in The Boston Globe, The Irish Times, the Irish Examiner, The Irish News, The Guardian, The Sunday Business Post, Our Sunday Visitor, Crux, Catholic World Report, the National Catholic Reporter and the National Catholic Register. He writes from Ireland for the award winning OSV News syndicated wire service.
A former Editor at Vatican Radio, he is a respected broadcaster contributing topical radio diaries to RTÉ's Drivetime as well as Sunday Miscellany. He also provides commentary and translation for RTÉ from overseas religious events and ceremonies.
The Good Friday Agreement brought peace in Northern Ireland, but empty pews followed
The creation of Northern Ireland saw widespread discrimination against the Catholic community, and the region’s first prime minister famously described the legislature as a “Protestant parliament for a Protestant people.”
Publications
Award-winning author and editor.
Michael Kelly has published two books in recent years. The first, co-authored with renowned Papal biographer Austen Ivereigh, has been used as a core text on many catechetical and faith formation programmes.
His second book, A Pilgrim Guide To The Holy Land, is a TOP 10 BESTSELLER, and now in a fully-revised second edition.
As Consulting Editor with Columba Books and the Currach Press, Michael has worked with a number of authors as an editor for their own books.
How To Defend The Faith Without Raising Your Voice
The Catholic Church in the 21st Century stands as one of the most controversial organisations in contemporary society. Counting more than 1.2 billion adherents, to its critics it is out of touch and stuck in the past. Some of its teachings remain little understood and Catholics can often find themselves on the receiving end of a barrage of criticism. How to Defend the Faith Without Raising Your Voice answers some of the most common criticisms of Catholicism and helps Catholics and non-Catholics alike to understand where the Church is coming from on controversial topics like abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriage and the use of condoms in the fight against HIV. It aims to reframe the debate to help people understand why the Church teaches what it does and equips Catholics to defend their beliefs in a calm and rational way.
A Pilgrim Guide To The Holy Land
In this unique guidebook, Michael Kelly will take readers to the sites associated with the earthly life of Christ from Bethlehem to Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee to Jerusalem. Whether you are planning a trip to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, or simply want to deepen your understanding or faith this book is indispensable. This book will help the Gospel sites come alive and enhance readers' appreciation for the Holy Land. As well as the sites, there are chapters on the culture, food, wine and people that make up the fascinating mix that is the Holy Land today some 2,000 years after Christ walked in the land. With detailed maps, this book will appeal to travellers to the region and also serve as an enchanting insight for armchair pilgrims with an interest in the area or far-flung places in general.
David Quinn: How We Killed God
EDITED BY MICHAEL KELLY
For almost 25 years, David Quinn, one of the country’s best known and most controversial commentators on religious and social affairs, has charted the turbulent relationship between modern Ireland and the Catholic Church. He has been a fierce critic of an aggressive secularism that is pushing religion to the margins of public life, and of what he believes is groupthink in contemporary debates. From the controversies that have raged about Church and State, marriage and the family, the abuse scandals, the right to life and the Celtic Tiger, this book is a very different take on nearly a quarter of a century of tumultuous change in Irish society.
Robin Eames: Unfinished Search
EDITED BY MICHAEL KELLY
While for most of the rest of the world, the Northern Ireland peace process is a thing of historic memory that brought an end to bloody sectarian conflict, there is still a long road of healing and reconciliation yet to be travelled. In this deeply honest and personal account Robin Eames offers a glimpse into the pain and suffering that the Troubles brought to so many across the communities in Northern Ireland.
Holy Land Travel
I have led more than 30 pilgrimages to the Holy Land helping and guiding people to experience the unique religious experience, culture, people and food and wine of thee Middle East.
If you'd like to talk to me about organising a tour, or speaking to a group - do get in touch.
Get In Touch
Feel free to get in touch about writing, journalism, media training, invitations to speak at events or anything else you’re interested in.
