Ireland kicks off St. Patrick's festivities honoring Tom and Esther Kellams

Friday evening, the Ireland St. Patrick’s Day Celebration officially kicked off with the annual Light Up Ireland held at Bret Voelkel’s restored Texaco garage.

Here is a link to the full list of events.

The garage was filled to the brim as the 2025 Mayors for a Day Tom and Esther Kellams were recognized for their contributions to the community before ceremoniously flipping the switch to bathe the town in green.

*Sam Schwenk held a special toast for the mayors–though the mugs and steins were made to look like they held beer, they actually had water in them.*

Tom and Esther Kellams, married 68 years, have deep roots in the community.

Tom and Esther both attended Ireland Grade School and High School, graduating in 1953. Tom grew up on what the family calls “The Farm,” land that has been in their family since before Indiana became a state. Their 200-acre farm was recognized with the Bicentennial Hoosier Homestead Award, honoring its rich history and longstanding contributions to the community.

Esther, deeply influenced by her family and Christian values, recalls her upbringing as shaping the person she is today, while Tom credits his family, faith, and teachers as foundational to his success.

Together, they raised three children and are proud grandparents to four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Throughout their lives, they built numerous agriculture-related businesses across Jasper, Ireland, Holland, and Ferdinand. In addition to their entrepreneurial spirit, they dedicated themselves to preserving Ireland’s rich history. As one of the founders of the Ireland Historical Society, they count this among their proudest accomplishments—an achievement that the town of Ireland profoundly appreciates.

Beyond this, Tom has played a significant role in historical preservation, serving as one of the founders of the Dubois County Museum, an original officer and member of the Ireland Lions Club, and the president of the Dubois County Genealogy Society.

Esther, meanwhile, made a lasting impact on Ireland’s youth by founding the town’s first Girl Scout troop and spearheading numerous community projects.

A shared passion for genealogy has driven them to document their own family lineage and help many others in their search for their family history. Tom also enjoys assembling historical information books in three-ring binders to help others learn about our Dubois County history, while Esther’s fascination with family history began as early as age 11.

In addition to their deep love for history, they cherish traveling, spending time with family, and upholding the values of faith, community, and friendship. These values have been the guiding force in their lives, shaping the way they serve and give back.

As they step into their roles as Mayors for a Day, Tom and Esther are most looking forward to celebrating Ireland’s legacy, honoring the town’s DNA since Tom has Irish blood running through his veins, and reconnecting with the people who make this community special.

Their favorite memories of Ireland include summer days spent playing in the creek and bicycling through town. One particular night stands out—when Esther was crowned Basketball Queen while Tom played on the Ireland Spuds team. It’s said that he only had eyes for her the entire evening.

In all, Ireland is lucky to call them its own, and we are thrilled to celebrate their lifelong dedication to our town.