He created a headline of his own by making the century. Veteran Belfast journalist James Kelly has died aged 100.
Kelly, from the Falls Road, was a legendary figure in Irish journalism who penned his final column for the Belfast-published Irish News on his birthday in May.
"He is a legend of Irish journalism beyond doubt, the longest-serving columnist on these islands, a person whose life story was closely associated with the history of the Irish News and the history of the entire country," said Irish News editor, Noel Doran.
Kelly joined the Irish News in the late 1920s, later moving to the Irish Press in Dublin, followed by the Irish Independent group where he worked for 50 years. He returned to the Irish News after retirement and wrote a regular Saturday column.
Seamus Dooley of the National Union of Journalists described Kelly as the "uncrowned king of Irish journalism." Kelly is survived by three daughters and was predeceased by his wife, Eileen.
