Peter Kelly

Who is Peter Kelly?

Peter Kelly is a former Irish politician.

Kelly was a founder member of the Progressive Democrats in 1986. He entered politics as a candidate for the Progressive Democrats at the 1991 local elections. He was the candidate for the Progressive Democrats in the October 1998 Cork Couth Central by-election brought about by the death of Hugh Coveney. He was elected as a councillor for the Progressive Democrats at the 1999 local elections.

In June 2000, Kelly announced his decision to leave the Progressive Democrats for Fine Gael. He told This Week on RTÉ Radio 1 that he had become "disillusioned" with a party "devoid of policy". He also held talks with the Labour Party before settling on Fine Gael. The then Progressive Democrats leader Mary Harney spoke openly for the first time about the prospect of the party "facing extinction" following the defection of Kelly.

Kelly was elected as a councillor for Fine Gael at the 2004 local elections. The Progressive Democrats have since ceased to exist.

Kelly resigned as a councillor in May 2006 and moved to Wellington, New Zealand.