Ó Ceallaigh Green

Kelly green is such a lovely shade of green: strong, bright and happy. I always thought it was an American term, and an odd one at that, after a person’s name.

Then I looked it up and discovered that the description in fact originated in Ireland, and was first used in 1917 – because of the excess population answering to the name of Kelly, and the popularity of the colour green. How funny! 

The green, green hills of Ireland – amazing

The surname Kelly is actually the Anglicised form of the Irish Ó Ceallaigh, although it has also transferred to a given name for males and females.

Of course, over a million Irish emigrated during the terrible Potato Famine in the late 1840s, many to America, which explains the popularity of the term there.

Here’s a little collection of Kelly green, but the ultimate, you must admit, would have to be a Kelly bag in Kelly green. 

Click for a closer lookKelly greens from (left to right):

1. Photo by Tim Walker, British Vogue, Nov 2010
2. Vintage transparent bugle beads from Bead Paradise
3. Kendra tote by Cole Haan at Style Mojo
4. Madeline Weinrib fabric ikat cushion at Digs 
5. Striped straws pinned by Michael Miller Fabrics 
6. Miles Redd kitchen cabinets at Chinoiserie Chic
7. The Irish shamrock