{{Short description|Irish journalist (1938–2025)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Donal Kelly | image = | birth_date = {{birth year|1938}} | birth_place = Buncrana, County Donegal, Ireland | death_date = {{death date and given age|df=y|2025|01|03|86}} | death_place = Glenageary, County Dublin, Ireland | education = | occupation = {{hlist|Journalist|broadcaster}} | spouse = Ann Kelly | children = 2 | employer = {{hlist|''Irish Press''|RTÉ News}} | years_active = |}}
'''Donal Kelly''' (1938 – 3 January 2025) was an Irish journalist and broadcaster, best known for his work with RTÉ News.
==Life and career== Kelly began his journalism career with the ''Donegal People's Press'' before later joining the ''Irish Press''. He joined RTÉ in 1968. During his career, Kelly covered the conflict in Northern Ireland throughout the 1970s and 1980s as well as various international events. He succeeded Seán Duignan as RTÉ's political correspondent in 1988, later becoming political editor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/olive/APA/INA/Default.aspx#panel=document|title=Donegalman new RTÉ pol. corr|publisher=Donegal Democrat|first=|last=|date=18 November 1988|accessdate=5 January 2025}}</ref> In this role, Kelly covered several general election campaigns, as well as state visits by Nelson Mandela and Mikhail Gorbachev. He was one of the first presenters of ''The Week in Politics''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/olive/APA/INA/Default.aspx#panel=document|title=Left breathless by the whirlwiind of politics|publisher=Connacht Sentinel|first=|last=|date=25 March 1997|accessdate=5 January 2025}}</ref> Kelly retired in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/0103/1489032-donal-kelly/|title=Former RTÉ political editor Donal Kelly dies aged 86|publisher=RTÉ News|first=|last=|date=3 January 2025|accessdate=5 January 2025}}</ref>
Kelly died on 3 January 2025, at the age of 86.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2025/01/04/sadness-at-death-of-buncrana-native-and-rte-editor-donal-kelly/|title=Sadness at death of Buncrana native and RTÉ editor Donal Kelly|publisher=Donegal Daily|first=|last=|date=4 January 2025|accessdate=5 January 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Donal}} Category:1938 births Category:2025 deaths Category:The Irish Press people Category:RTÉ newsreaders and journalists Category:Broadcasters from County Donegal Category:People from Buncrana