Kitty Kilkelly was born in  Bastion street,  Athlone in 1889, the  eldest daughter of local shopkeepers Michael and Mary Kilkelly .She was a tireless campaigner in the quest to ensure that the international acclaimed Tenor, John Count McCormick was appreciated in his own town.

 In 1937,in order to preserve the images of the rapidly developing town of Athlone,she commissioned a professional photographer to accompany her on a tour of the main traditional commercial outlets ,as well as the newly constructed SS  Peters and Pauls Church.