The Actor, Writer, Singer and Entertainer is remembered on his anniversary by Sheila O’Kelly
Francis Declan Kelly was born in Dublin in December 1938 to Charles and Cathleen Kelly. He had five siblings and the family resided in Blackrock, County Dublin. Frank was educated at Sion Hill Dominican Convent and in Blackrock College.
When he was seven years old, his father bought him a violin. Frank didn’t like the instrument, however his father insisted he learn how to play it. It was in Blackrock College his excellent singing voice was discovered. His mandatory violin lessons and his talent for music and acting was fostered at the expense of his formal education.
His father was the driving force that led to a troubled relationship between them. Frank decided to take control of his academic education. He persuaded his parents to pay for grinds in the school on Cross Avenue, Blackrock, so that he could sit the matriculation exam that would enable him to go to University.
He passed five subjects and was accepted into University College, Dublin to study Law. He joined the University’s Drama Society and was determined to become a full-time actor.
After graduating in 1958 from college and King Inns, Dublin, Frank took up journalism working as a sub-editor at a number of Irish newspapers prior to becoming an actor. His first theatrical role was in the 1961 production of Saint Joan of Stockyards with actress, Siobhán McKenna.
His ability to sing and play the violin opened up the world of variety and cabaret to him, as well as more serious theatrical productions such as Slings and Arrows (1961) in the Gate theatre, Dublin, and Playboy of the Western World with Milo O’Shea and Maureen Toal. Frank worked with actors Jack Cruise, Cecil Sheridan and Jimmy O’Dea at the Eblana Theatre.
In 1964, he married Bairbre Neldon. They had seven children and lived in Blackrock, Dublin. Frank’s first screen role was in the film The Italian Job released in 1969.
He wrote comedy sketches with journalist David Hanly for the Radio Éireann sponsored programme, The Glen Abbey Show that aired weekly in the 1970s. In the sketches, Frank played the part of a culchie named Gobnait Ó Lúnasa. The setting of the sketches was in a telephone booth and commenced with the ringing of a phone and usually followed by: Hello! Guess Who? Is that you Nuala?
As well as his radio and stage work, Frank contributed to RTÉ programmes. From 1967-1982, he starred in the children’s programme, Wanderley Wagon with Bill Golding, Eugene Lambert and Nora O’Mahony playing a number of characters and writing many of the scripts. He portrayed the character of Maurice Nolan in Glenroe, and had a role in Emmerdale.
Continue reading in this week’s Ireland’s Own
