Joseph was born and raised in the small parish of St. Margarets, County Dublin and has been in the States since the 1990’s. After meeting his Derry girl, Jackie after his arrival, the two married and moved their life to Rutherford to raise their three children; Charlie, Ciara, and Grace. He is proud to see them all be graduates of Rutherford High School and be given the opportunity to attend University, something he worked hard for them to be able to achieve.
Prior to his life in the States, Joe played Gaelic football growing up and represented his beloved County Dublin as a youth. His avid love for the game still rings true as he never misses a GAA game, rooting for both the men and women in blue, Up the Dubs!
To get involved in Rutherford athletics, Joe coached the Rutherford girls travel soccer team while his daughter Ciara was young, leading the team to Championships and great memories all while having fun. When he’s not watching GAA or soccer, he loves to root for the New York Rangers.
Many may know Joe from his days behind the bar, as his first job was at a local pub in Ireland, The Boot Inn. Established in 1608, the bar still stands as a great place to grab a pint of Guinness when visiting Ireland. Today Joe owns his own company, Joe Kelly Interiors, which has become one of the most well known and staple small businesses here in Rutherford. Through his years as a painter of many homes across the town and further the state, Joe has had the pleasure of greeting newcomers to the community and connecting them with long-time residents. This has led many neighbors and friends to feel blessed to have Joe as a welcoming face here in the Rutherford community which he holds so close to his heart.
Joe is a proud founding Trustee of the Rutherford Irish American Association and has been a staunch supporter of our organization since its inception.
If you are ever visiting the Emerald Isle be sure to chat with Joe first, as he is the best to provide travel advice, recommendations and to connect you with great people for the warmest of Irish welcomes!
Original article at https://rutherfordirish.com/2024-parade-dignitaries
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