Michael J. O'Kelly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael J. O'Kelly
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| Born | 1915 |
| Died | October 1982 (aged 66–67) |
| Occupation | Archaeologist |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Notable works | Led excavation and restoration of Newgrange |
Michael Joseph "Brian" O'Kelly (1915 – 1982) was an important Irish archaeologist. He is famous for leading the digging and rebuilding of Newgrange. Newgrange is a very old Neolithic (Stone Age) tomb in Ireland. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, meaning it's a special place protected for everyone.
Early Life of Michael O'Kelly
Michael O'Kelly was born in Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, Ireland, in 1915. Even though his official name was Michael Joseph, his family and friends called him Brian. This was the name his mother had originally wanted for him.
He began his studies at University College, Cork in 1934. While still a student in 1937, he started working on archaeological digs. He helped survey an old ring-fort in County Cork. Later that year, he worked at the ancient Neolithic site of Lough Gur.
After finishing his master's degree, O'Kelly became the curator of the new Cork Public Museum. In 1945, he married Claire, who was also an archaeologist he had met in college.
O'Kelly's Archaeology Career
In 1946, Michael O'Kelly became the head of the Archaeology Department at University College, Cork. He held this important job for 36 years. Every summer, he led teams on exciting fieldwork projects. From 1944 onwards, he wrote many articles for scholarly journals about his discoveries.
Discovering Newgrange's Secrets
Newgrange is the most famous site O'Kelly worked on. It was first found by accident way back in 1699. By 1961, the site was in very poor condition and not open to visitors. That year, another archaeologist, Patrick Hartnett, chose O'Kelly to lead the excavations. The work at Newgrange continued every year until 1975.
On December 21, 1967, O'Kelly made an amazing discovery. He confirmed an old local story that the sun's rays on the midwinter sunrise shine right into the tomb. The sunlight passes through a small opening called a 'roof-box' above the doorway. It then travels all the way along the passage to the center of the chamber.
O'Kelly thought deeply about why Newgrange was built. He believed the people who built it saw it as more than just a tomb. He said, "I think that the people who built Newgrange built not just a tomb but a house of the dead, a house in which the spirits of special people were going to live for a very long time." He also noted that the builders made sure the tomb stayed completely dry, which it still is today.
Michael O'Kelly and his wife, Claire, also worked on other ancient sites in the Boyne Valley area.
