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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Astronaut Mark Kelly, spouse of Gabby Giffords, an American hero --- intensely proud of his Irish heritage

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Astronaut Mark Kelly, spouse of Gabby Giffords, an American hero --- intensely proud of his Irish heritage

Posted on Monday, January 10, 2011 at 05:07 PM

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Read more: Gabrielle Giffords’ love story with husband Mark Kelly

Read more: Time to stop the hate rhetoric after Gabrielle Giffords shooting

Mark Kelly, husband of shot Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords traces his Irish heritage through his father, Richard Kelly a retired police captain.

The astronaut is in Tucson beside his stricken wife, but is scheduled to lead the final shuttle mission to space on April 1st.

Right from an early age, Kelly and his twin brother Scott, were determined to go into space family members told our sister publication Irish America magazine who interviewed the brothers in 2006.

When they were eight they told their Irish grandmother in Orange, New Jersey 'Grandma we're going up in space someday. She would just laugh at them" his father recalls.

Mark's mother is not surprised they both made it and in the same job.

"I really do believe there is a genetic predisposition for certain things," she told the magazine.

To keep the twins on equal footing their parents refused to tell them which one was older until they were 16. Mark is actually older by sixteen minutes.

Out of the 2,400 applications for astronaut the year they applied only 35 were chosen and there were three Kellys among them, the Kelly twins and Jim Kelly who piloted the shuttle in a 2005 mission.

Mark was married to a twin before being divorced and eventually marrying Gabbie Giffords.

Speaking of his roots he told Irish America "I go back to my hometown of Orange usually a couple of times a year. They have a big St.Patricks Parade, I like to go back for that."

Hopefully this year or next he can take his wife, the brave congresswoman along.

His twin brother, Scott Kelly, currently on the International Space Station, broadcast a message to the world when he heard the dreadful news.

"As I look out the window, I see a very beautiful planet that seems very inviting and peaceful. Unfortunately, it is not."

"These days, we are constantly reminded of the unspeakable acts of violence and damage we can inflict upon one another, not just with our actions, but also with our irresponsible words," he said.

"We're better than this. We must do better."

Amen to that.

Read more: Gabrielle Giffords’ love story with husband Mark Kelly

Read more: Time to stop the hate rhetoric after Gabrielle Giffords shooting

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23 comments

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pilib04 | Jan 16, 2011, 03:27 PM EST

Too many of these posts have nothing to do with the story which is about Gabrielle Giffords husband, Mark Kelly.

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Monsoonman | Jan 12, 2011, 11:51 AM EST

We should follow the peoples republic of china social/economic model. They know how to deal with "hate speech" by nipping it in the bud. The offenders of hate speech are sent to re-education camps, or if proven to be incorrigible, are used as organ donors.

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pacifist | Jan 12, 2011, 05:28 AM EST

seamusmoore, I didn't suggest that this tragedy was as a result of the extreme political rhetoric dominating the US political world. Looking at the photograph of the suspect I got the impression by the look in his eyes that he is possessed. Yes - you are right in saying " that heinous acts are committed by evil and/or disturbed people ". But the total number of deaths through guns in the US annually is appalling and astounding. But the numbers of murders, suicides and apparent accidents through firearms is appalling and astounding. As for the right to bear arms - it seems to me that the cure may be worse than the disease. But even here in Ireland the murder rate is terrible and is totally unacceptable - that in a country with quite strict gun control, although most of the crimes are committed by using illegal arms. However there is the influence of the hunting lobby who have a powerful influence. I can understand people wanting to hunt food if they are in need because their source of food is dangerously limited, but hunting down animals as a hobby, for fun, is not a God-given right. Just as with extremists on the left the reactionary right take their positions too far. The Left defend all sorts of ideologies that are an affornt to Christian values a prime example being abortion on demand, but the Right are guilty of idol worship: they worship the Constitution, the work of men, as if it was the word of God - they have made idols of the flag and the gun. As I've said, looking in from the outside it seems the country is totally nuts. I have no objection to anyone criticizing Ireland if they wish, but it is unlikely they'll say much that I haven't said already of my own country - a country of which I am thoroughly ashamed.

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Ajreaper | Jan 11, 2011, 10:04 PM EST

In the entire history of civilization what goverment has ever succesfully banned anything? People bent on commiting violent acts always seem to be able to aquire what they need don't they?

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seamusmoore | Jan 11, 2011, 09:22 PM EST

@pacifist: I was the first poster to Patrick Roberts original column that sought to politicize what is first and foremost a tragedy, not an opportunity to play the blame game which too many seem to relish. It is interesting that anti-second amendment people never fail to score political points for their views out of any tragedy involving a shooting. Heinous acts against humanity are committed by evil and/or disturbed people. Criminals and bad people always seem to have weapons in US cities with strict gun control laws (NYC, Chicago and Washington, DC quickly come to mind). Timothy McVeigh produced a carnage out of an essential element to produce food: fertilizer. You may want to research the Appalachin Law School shooting where students retrieving guns from the cars stopped the death toll at 4 instead of approaching the number (32) seen at VA Tech (where campus signs announced it was "a gun-free"zone.

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pacifist | Jan 11, 2011, 07:42 PM EST

I note I left out a word in the last sentence of my comment. That word is "myth ".

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pacifist | Jan 11, 2011, 07:39 PM EST

Shouldn't this discussion be about the tragedy that has resulted from America's love affair with and idol worship of guns? And I see that the majority don't think there is a connection between the insane war of words cloaked in seething political hatred that passes for political discourse in the US and the unrestrained availability of firearms? A case of not seeing the forest for the trees? Looking in from the outside it is an appaling vista to behold and reminds me of the lynch mob scenes in western movies. The dividing line between and reality like genuis and madness is very slender. Indeed a person whom I know well who worked in the US for many years called the country the largest open air mental asylum in the world.

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Ajreaper | Jan 11, 2011, 03:04 PM EST

Sadly even the terminally ignorant are entitled to freedom of expression- perhaps its best as it can act as a "warning" to the rest of us.

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Monsoonman | Jan 11, 2011, 03:03 PM EST

"deracinated" I like that word Niall. I Wish in America all would be called Americans, no need for the hyphenations. If you go to Arlington National Cemetery, you'll notice the dead veterans are mostly referred to as plain and simple Americans.

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manhattan | Jan 11, 2011, 02:47 PM EST

Thanks Niall for writing a nice piece about Mark Kelly and his wife who is fighting for her life. Irish and Jewish make lovely couples . Sadly any nut ("see comments by Phlutie) can buy a gun and that has got to stop it's the wild west with anyone with a grudge can go anywhere and shoot up a school, office or politician meeting the public.

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manhattan | Jan 11, 2011, 02:37 PM EST

Phlutie Phan belongs in the same cell as the nut that shot the congresswomen and the others for no other reason then thinking like Phlutie. Boy that name alone tells what looneys are among us.

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antoman | Jan 11, 2011, 02:35 PM EST

@PhlutiePhan..Nice statement.Have you read the Wizard of Oz and do you own a firearm?Be helpful and tell us what State you reside in and if there's a clock tower close by.Thank you.

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Searlit | Jan 11, 2011, 01:22 PM EST

It doesn't sound like Mark Kelly would mind that people are admiring his Irishness. It is possible to be "intensely proud" of one's Irish heritage while being completely swept away with people of other ethnicity. It's called loving yourself. When you meet someone else who loves themselves, ethnicity and all, expect miracles!

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Ajreaper | Jan 11, 2011, 01:13 PM EST

LOL, Murphy be a big surprise for you when the time comes if it turns out to be a single God known by many names for those on planet earth who worship. Unless your help is ask for in things spiritual the only soul most of us should concern oursleves with is our own.

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mcginleynj | Jan 11, 2011, 01:05 PM EST

God bless her and see her through a full recovery. Bless and protect her husband & family at this troublesome time in their life.

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