Hermann Kelly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hermann Kelly
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Kelly in 2019
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| President of the Irish Freedom Party | |
| In office 8 September 2018 – 9 May 2025 |
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| Succeeded by | Robert Long (as chairman) |
| Director of Communications for Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy | |
| In office August 2009 – 2019 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 December 1968 Bogside, Derry, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Irish Freedom Party (since 2018) |
| Other political affiliations |
UK Independence Party (UKIP) |
| Education | St Columb's College |
| Alma mater | St Patrick's College, Maynooth |
| Occupation | Press officer |
Hermann Patrick Kelly (born 25 December 1968) is an Irish activist, politician, and former journalist. He was the president of the Irish Freedom Party from when it started in September 2018 until May 2025. In late 2021, Kelly worked in the European Parliament as an assistant to Romanian politician Cristian Terheș.
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Early Life and Education
Hermann Kelly was born on 25 December 1968 in Bogside, Derry, Northern Ireland. His father was a primary school headmaster, and his mother was a nurse from Australia. He has three siblings.
He went to secondary school at St Columb's College in Derry. After that, he studied marine biology in Edinburgh. Later, he studied theology at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth. For a short time, he also worked as a teacher in Dublin.
Career as a Writer
Journalism Work
As a journalist, Hermann Kelly wrote articles for the Irish Examiner newspaper. He also contributed to the Irish Mail on Sunday. For a brief period in 2004, he was the acting editor and later the deputy editor of The Irish Catholic newspaper.
Political Career
In the European Union
Hermann Kelly used to work as a press officer for Nigel Farage, a well-known British politician. He was also the communications director for a political group called Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD), which ended in mid-2019.
Kelly believes that Ireland should leave the European Union. This idea is sometimes called 'Irexit'. He is the president of the Irish Freedom Party, which also supports Ireland leaving the EU.
He ran in the 2019 European Parliament election for the Dublin area. He received 2,441 votes, which was 0.67% of the total, and was not elected.
In 2021, Kelly worked as a press officer for Romanian politician Cristian Terheș. Terheș is part of the European Conservatives and Reformists group.
Kelly also ran in the 2024 European Parliament elections for the Midlands–North-West area but was not elected. He received 13,904 votes, which was 2.04% of the total.
In Irish National Politics
Hermann Kelly was a candidate for the Irish Freedom Party in the Louth area during the 2024 general election. He received 2,546 votes, which was 4.0% of the total, but was not elected.
Political Beliefs
Hermann Kelly supports Ireland leaving the European Union and wants to see a united Ireland. He believes in economic freedom and has questioned how much money Ireland pays to the EU.
..... Kelly has described his own beliefs as "Irish Catholic nationalism."
Some news groups have discussed Kelly's views on population and immigration. He has stated that he believes Irish people should be consulted before any government changes lead to population increases, whether from immigration or other reasons. He has also said that he does not support ideas of separate races or one race being better than another. However, he does support the idea of a "mono cultural society" in Ireland.
