Following ordination, Kelly's first pastoral appointment was as curate in Kinvara, before being appointed as teacher at Coláiste Éinde, Salthill in 1972. It was during this appointment that he completed a higher diploma in education from University College Galway in 1973. Kelly was subsequently appointed as teacher at Our Lady's College, Gort in 1980, and later the president of the college in 1986 until its amalgamation into Gort Community School in 1995.[2]
Kelly was appointed as Bishop-elect of Achonry by Pope Benedict XVI on 20 November 2007.[3][4][5][6] He admitted his surprise and pleasure at his appointment, and promised to concentrate his initial efforts on becoming acquainted with the clergy and laity of the diocese,[7] while the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Seán Brady, described him as "a man of prayer, filled with love for the Word of God and the pastoral care of people".[8]
^Irish dioceses have been merged in the past–for example, Galway and Kilmacduagh in the 19th century–by leaving positions vacant and naming apostolic administrators rather than uniting two dioceses under a single ordinary.