Joan Kelly

Joan Kelly (1828–1898 in the hope of raising sufficient funds to be able to leave the Cunninghame Combination Poorhouse.

Life and character Kelly was born in Irvine and never married, living with her widowed mother Mary Allan in Bridgegate and later in the High Street. It is not known when or how her father died, although one of her poems implies that it was at sea whilst her mother was pregnant. She was employed as a muslin hand-sewer. Kelly took an active interest in local and world events, writing poetry on these themes. Her mother, Mary Allan (born circa 1786), died in 1870 aged 84. Kelly's grandparents on her mother's side of the family were Robert Allan and Grace Sharp. She spent much her later life in the local 'poorhouse' due to being blind or partially sighted. Her age is in conflict with that given on her death certificate. A handwritten 53 may have been read as 58.

In 1895 the Irvine Parish Role of Paupers gives her age as 76 which is in conflict with her death certificate and records that she had entered the poorhouse in 1870 as a result of 'Impaired Vision' after her mother had died.

Kelly died a pauper and as she appears to have had no relatives she would have been buried in the cemetery at the workhouse, however James Dickie, Club Secretary and Town Clerk, as well as the other directors of the Irvine Burns Club recognised her talents as a poet and organised and paid for her burial at the Irvine churchyard, preceded by a procession of the club members, magistrates, the Incorporated Trades, council officials and members of the public. The Irvine Burns Club laid a laurel wreath on her grave.

Irvine has a 'Joan Kelly Place' within a housing scheme, named after the poet.

Poetry As stated, Kelly took an active interest in local and world events and her poetry was created around these themes. She included a poem about Robert Burns in her book. Her poetry often appeared in local papers.

In 1884 she published her poems in an octavo (17.5 x 1.5 cm) volume with the title "Miscellaneous Poems". It was published in hardback blue boards with calico covering and embossed gold lettering by Charles Murchland "Irvine Herald Office" in Irvine. She received a letter of thanks from the Empress Eugene thanking her for the poem she wrote upon the death of her son in Africa.

The following is an example of this Victorian poet's work composed for John Yuille who died in 1883 aged 75 and published in her 1884 book. Yuille had been a hand loom weaver who became a printer, stationer and bookseller. He was buried in the Irvine Old Parish Churchyard. His role as a friend and a publisher and printer may have influenced Kelly's decision to publish her poems shortly after Yuille's death.

In Memory of Mr. John Yuille

Aged pilgrim, all is over, Thou hast laid earth's weapons down; Long thou wore the Master's armour, Now, I trust, thou'st gained the crown.

Many years thou sojourned with us, Those who knew thee loved thee best; No display, but ever ready Aiding those with sorrow pressed.

Kind and genial in thy manner, Even from thy early youth; Shunning all that led to evil, Known for rectitude and truth.

But on earth no more we'll see thee -- No more see thy placid face; But in memory long thou'lt linger, Long be marked thy vacant place.

Kelly's poem upon the death of the wife of the Irvine area's laird;

In Memory of the Late Countess of Eglinton and Winton.

I've seen the beauteous king of day In splendid glory rise, Chasing the darker clouds away And dazzling eager eyes.

All felt his pure enlivening beams; The wealthy and the poor; The monarch in his gilded halls; The peasant at his door.

And as I gazed with upturned eye, I've marked the threat'ning cloud Come sweeping on with sudden force, And wrap him in its shroud.

A partial list of the poems in Kelly's 1884 publication Miscellaneous Poems Lines on the Death of Miss H. Green Lines Upon the Sad Catastrophe on the Clyde In Memory of John McGavin, Esq, Kilwinning In Memory of the Misses R & C Wales On the Death of the Prince, Imperial Upon Receiving a Letter of Thanks From the Empress Eugenie To Tame a Robin On the Marriage of Princess Louise and the Marquis of Lorne Upon the Death of Prince Albert Child and Mother - A Dialogue The Seven Sailors

Friendship The Poisoned Flower To a False Friend A Husband to His Wife, Before Leaving For America Fifty Years of Married Life; or the Golden Wedding Lines Upon Miss Longmuir's Marriage A Christmas Wish to a Lady Upon Looking at the Photograph of the Rev James Sommerville Irvine Parish Church A Sketch of the Writer's Life Lines on the Mournful Catastrophe in Sunderland Upon Burns' Birthday, 25 January 1867