Richard John Kelly (1810–1884) was an Irish journalist and the founder of The Tuam Herald.
Kelly was a native of Loughrea, County Galway, and launched The Tuam Herald newspaper on 13 May 1837; it has been in continuous publication ever since.
He was the proprietor and editor until succeeded by his son, Jasper, who was a journalist.
Jasper died in his thirties, leaving a young family, and Richard resumed management of the paper on behalf of his grandchildren.