Mary Eva Kelly

Mary Eva Kelly (later O'Doherty) (1826–1910) was an Irish-Australian poet and writer who was widely known as Eva of the Nation.

Born in Headford, County Galway, Ireland, Kelly was educated privately with other members of her family. Her first poems were translations, including one of Alphonse de Lamartine's Dying Christian.

Kelly became famous for her contributions to The Nation, the first being "The Banshee". Initially using her own name, she adopted the non-de-plume Eva starting with her "Lament for Davis". She also contributed prose, essays and ballads.

In 1848, Kelly met Kevin Izod O'Doherty who was in prison for his radical politics. She married him in 1855 at Kingstown and they emigrated to Brisbane, Australia but returned to Ireland the following year. O'Doherty was elected M.P. for Meath. After a time in London they moved back to Brisbane where O'Doherty was elected a member of both houses of parliament in Queensland.

Mary Eva O'Doherty died at Rosalie, Brisbane on 21 May 1910 and was buried in Toowong Cemetery.

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