Memorial of the Saddest Soldier

In December 2016, the memorial to Drumanangle native, Michael Joseph Kelly was blessed by Fr. Brendan Hoban.

This commemorates the 'troubled soul' of a veteran of five armies, who was born just fifty yards away in the lee of the hill facing the monument in 1896.

The son of a prosperous local politician and large farmer, young Michael Joseph, eschewed the career of a surgeon destined for him, when he joined the 1916 Rising in Dublin as a student. When released by the crown forces, a chastened Michael Joseph seemed to settle back into his studies, until he walked into a British Army recruiting office the following year. He would serve in France during World War I and earn two medals. However, he returned to a changed Ireland in 1919, and joined the IRA who were fighting for Irish Freedom against the very flag that young Kelly had saluted while in uniform. Recognised by friend and foe alike as an able leader, as a Captain he led the local Moygownagh volunteers in raids against the Crown Forces and subsequently against the Free State, during the subsequent Irish Civil War. Ending on the losing side, a dispirited Capt. Michael Joseph Kelly emigrated to the USA in 1925, vowing never to return to his beloved Drumanangle.

In America he witnessed the tragic deaths of his two sisters and brother which haunted him for the remainder of his life. After fighting with American forces in South America during the 'Banana Wars', he returned to America and jobbed from farm to farm as a labouring hand, eventually ending up in Prineville Oregon.

Despite, signing up for the 'Old Man' army reserve after the bombing of Pearl Harbour, he was now a broken man in poor health and got lodgings from the county in Veteran's accommodation in the town. He was destined to die of ill health and poverty until his cousin Fr. Hannick tracked him down and managed to install him in new accommodation in nearby Redmond. He died only a few months later in 1966.

The monument to Michael Joseph Kelly was funded by his cousin Stephanie Jennings and his niece and nephews; Maureen Hegarty Gleeson, Gerard Hegarty, Paddy Hegarty and Declan Hegarty.