Joey Kelly: Emotional return to his late mother's grave

Joey Kelly: Emotional return to his late mother's grave

Musician and extreme athlete Joey Kelly is known for his remarkable discipline and challenges such as Ironman competitions and polar expeditions. But despite his successes, he has deep-rooted emotional wounds: the loss of his mother, Barbara-Ann Kelly, who died of breast cancer in 1982, has shaped him to this day. In a stirring podcast, Joey revealed that he was ashamed that he hadn't been to his mother's grave for 40 years. Barbara-Ann, who lived to be just 36, was buried in Spain in the presence of her family when Joey was just nine years old. The pain of this loss was enormous for the Kelly Family as life continued on tour.

The loss of a mother is an experience that leaves its mark. In the documentary soap “The Kelly Family – the journey continues,” Joey and his siblings reflect on their painful memories. They remember the strong decisions of their mother, who sought abortion advice while she was pregnant with her youngest son, Angelo (40). Despite doctor's recommendations, Barbara-Ann decided to give birth to her fifth child. Tragically, she died just eleven months after giving birth to Angelo.

Family and financial challenges

The emotional and financial pressure the family was experiencing at the time of Barbara-Ann's death was enormous. Joey reported that the Kelly Family made very little money from their music at the time. This shortage meant that they could not even afford a coffin; his brother Paul and his uncle had to build it themselves. These traumatic experiences are part of the story that still accompanies Joey and his siblings.

While the family continued touring and performing to make ends meet, it wasn't until years later that Joey found the courage to deal with the loss of his mother. In the early 2000s, several members of the Kelly Family left the band, including the late sister Barby. Even though they are united by the painful loss, the Kelly Family still consists of five active members.

The memories of Barbara-Ann remain vivid. Joey has difficulty talking about her absence, but he retains fond memories of his time with her. His sister Caroline describes her mother as a woman who did everything for her children and sacrificed her life for them. These deep bonds and experiences continue to shape the music and community of the Kelly Family today.