Kelly has been a Labour TD for Tipperary since 2011, and was party leader between 2020-2022. During the Labour-Fine Gael Coalition (2011-2016), he was Minister for the Environment, Community, and Local Government. A former MEP (2009-2011) and Senator on the agricultural panel, Kelly worked as an eBusiness manager for Bórd Fáilte before becoming a full-time politician.