ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Commandant Frank Kelly, The Parade, Bastion Court, Connaught Street, Athlone, County Westmeath and formerly of The Curragh, County Kildare on 12th July 2023. Pre-deceased by his brother Brendan. Sadly missed by his son Aidan and daughter Susan, daughter-in-law Roxana, grandchildren Emma, Matilda, Finnley and Jack, brothers Ger and Michael, sister Kathleen, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, extended family, relatives, Defence Forces colleagues and friends.
May Frank Rest in Peace
Francis Aidan (Frank) Kelly was born in May 1953 and grew up in the Curragh Training Camp where his father was a senior NCO. After completing his secondary education he attended University College Dublin. Frank enlisted in the Defence Forces as a Cadet with 47 Cadet Class in April 1972. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Corps on 24 September 1973, he was posted as Platoon Commander, A Company, 12 Infantry Battalion at Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick. In July 1975 Frank was conferred with a Bachelor of Science degree from University College Galway. He transferred to the Ordnance Corps as a technical officer and served with 1 Garrison Ordnance Company in the Curragh and later with 4 Garrison Ordnance Company in the Western Command. Overseas Frank was the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer with 67 Infantry Battalion UNIFIL in Lebanon from May to October 1990 where he dealt with, and disposed of, a huge roadside bomb on the road to At-Tiri, saving many lives.
Reposing at Anderson & Leahy’s Funeral Home, Newbridge on Wednesday, 20 July 2023, from 4pm with prayers at 7pm. Removal on Thursday morning at 10.30am to arrive at St. Brigid’s Church, The Curragh for 11am Mass. Mass can be viewed on https://www.facebook.com/TheCurraghChurch/
Private cremation afterwards in Newlands Cross Crematorium for family and close friends only please. Family flowers only. Donations, if desired, to Friends of St. Brigid’s Hospice.
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Frank’s death notice on rip.ie – https://rip.ie/death-notice/frank-kelly-kildare-the-curragh-523467
