My name is Marlene (Kelly) Cochrane - I live in Calgary, Alberta Canada. I am the daughter of Joseph Kelly b. 1915 and Catherine Clutchey b. 1919 both in Mazenod Saskatchewan. I am 2nd eldest of their eight children, the others being Clarence, Lin, Dennis, Adele, Colette, Sharon and Elaine.

Our line of Kelly's is referred to as the Western Kelly's because my grandparents, who were the first generation born in Canada, made the decision to travel from Ontario to Saskatchewan to homestead on the Canadian prairies. My particular family is known as the Vancouver Kelly's because shortly after my birth my parents moved to British Columbia which is where I grew up.

Fortunately or not, I am descended from two distinct Kelly families. My paternal grandparents were both Kelly's completely un-related. Trying to sort out and trace one Kelly family is difficult enough but two is just crazy!

On my paternal grandmother's side the roots go back to Killballyowen, my grandmother Annie Kelly b. 1875 Dungannon Twp Hastings County Ontario to James Kelly & Ellen Ryan was the first generation born in Canada along with her siblings - Daniel, John, James, Elizabeth, Patrick, Catherine, Ellen M. & George Fergus.

Daniel her grandfather b. 1804, her grandmother Elizabeth Davis b.1806 and her father James b.1832 all came from Coollattin. Daniel and Elizabeth had 4 sons & 2 daughters who were to come to Canada on the Dunbrody in 1853 - James, Catherine, George, Anistasia, John & Daniel, but 17 year old Catherine Kelly "missed the boat" so to speak. Catherine in the end is responsible for my attending the Canada Come Home event. I looked many years for Catherine until in April 2012 I found an on-line query from Jack Lynch about her to which I responded and found that his wife, Ann (Devereux) Lynch is her great-granddaughter. It was a surprise to learn that Catherine b.1835 did not leave Ireland & to say it was a thrill to finally locate her would be an understatement. Jack & Ann Lynch invited me to come to Wicklow, I can't believe I'll be there.

In the last few days I've learned of a James Kelly b. 1812/1813 who it appears is a brother to Daniel Kelly, I don't know of any other siblings but I wouldn't doubt there were more.

The parents of Daniel & James were James Kelly (of Clonmore Parish) and Catherine Graham (nee Timmons) who were married at Killaveney Parish 11 Feb 1804. I have quite a bit of information on the family of Elizabeth Davis born 1806 in Killballyowen, perhaps I’ll get to meet a descendant.

Many surnames link to my grandmother Kelly's family here are a few... Keogh, Davis, Coe, Dillon, Ryan, Murphy, Byrne, Burns, Kavanagh, Kealy, Roach (Roche), Gracy etc.

Now for the "other" Kelly's, the family of my paternal grandfather. He was John Carr Kelly b. 1871 Umfraville, Hastings Co. Ontario CA, he along with his siblings, James Carr, Robert Francis Carr, Michael, Patrick, Hanna, Mary Elizabeth, Alice Ann, Bridget & Patrick were the first generation born in Canada. They are the children of Patrick Kelly b. abt 1837 in Ireland and Anna Dolan b. 14 Jan 1843 Enniskillen Co Fermanagh. I've underlined the Carr given as a middle name to 3 sons who were raised by their Aunt Mary Kelly b. abt 1816 and her husband Robert Carr b. abt 1813. All we’ve heard is that Mary was Patrick’s sister & that she & Robert Carr were born in Ireland.

We have never found a proper marriage certificate for Patrick Kelly & Anna Dolan which might have given some good information, instead we have the church entry from St. Michael's Belleville Ontario 6 Oct 1861 that names the priest and gives the witnesses as Edward Kelly & Catherine Bows.

We have traced the Dolan part of the family but Patrick Kelly has been a dead-end. We have always felt that the Carr name is significant and if we could only find a marriage record for Mary Kelly & Robert Carr it may yield enough information to put us on the right track. At this time we have engaged the services of Dublin researcher, John O'Neill, who is attempting to find where these people came from in Ireland. One last shot at it.

Thanks to my mother, I have always had an interest in the history of my family. She and my dad would be very pleased to know that I will be able to be in County Wicklow for Canada Come Home, I feel very privileged.