The town of
Oristown is in the Parish of Teltown and in the Poor Law Union of Kells. Teltown is about
four miles from Kells. Teltown is a large ring fort with views over the river. The fort
was of great importance for the Celts. It was a prehistoric burial mound and games in
honour of the the dead were held there in August, presided over by the King of Tara.
The Teltown Funeral Games were
held for centuries to commemorate the death of Tea "Teia" Tephi (queen Tailte
- Tailtiu), the queen of all Ireland, who lived in her palace on Rath Dubh at Teltown
and reigned in the sixth century B.C. The Teltown Games continued until the late 1700s.
They were briefly revived at Dublin in 1924.
During the games races,
contests of strength and skill, and the baking and cooking contests we know in American
fairs, all take place to commemorate Lugh, who was called the Many-Skilled (Samildanach)
and was good at everything. "Teltown marriages" which last a year and a day, to
be dissolved by mutual consent at the same place they were solemnized, are another
reminder of the constant flux of the cycle of the year.
The Kellys are from Oristown
Ireland, located in Meath county. I have found records listing our Kellys and Murphys
dating back as far as 1750.
John Kelly and his grandson Kellett Stockheimer
(Photo owned by Rae Stockheimer Christy)
John KELLY married Mary MURPHY
on January 26, 1861 by Rev Kelsh. John Kelly died 1914 and Mary Kelly nee Murphy died Dec.
3, 1898
