‘Hallelujah’ priest to perform at Birr concert

Following Fr Ray Kelly's move from Oldcastle parish to become an assistant priest in Kilcormac last summer, he will perform at a concert in Birr later this month.

The fundraising event in aid of Eglish and Drumcullen parish will take place in the County Arms Hotel in Birr on Thursday, December 14 at 8pm. Fr Kelly will sing a number of popular Christmas songs along with the Leonard Cohen track 'Hallelujah' which made the local priest a worldwide internet sensation in 2014 when a video was released of him singing the song at a wedding.

Fr Kelly was based in Oldcastle for the past 17 years but is now living in Derrydolney outside Kilcormac.

He said that he is “very happy” living in Offaly but that he hasn't learned the lyrics to 'Offaly Rover' just yet.

Fr Kelly is enjoying the “quiet life” in the rural area after living in a town for so long. He said that he enjoys “walking in Lough Boora” with his King Charles dog, Barney.

The Tyrrellspass native's new role as an Assistant Priest to the parish priests in the parishes of Rahan, Mucklagh and The Island, Kilcormac and Mountbolus and Eglish and Rath enables him to focus on his music as well. “It would kind of suit me better and allows me time for music and concerts," he said.

Fr Kelly said that he wanted to cut back on pastoral work as his “health hasn't been the best” following a number of surgeries in recent years.

Fr Kelly said that taking part in Britain's Got Talent was “probably one of the best experiences” in that it was never his intention to apply for the talent show.

“I never requested to do it. They're always scouting for talent on YouTube.”

Fr Kelly went on to say that producers asked him to partake in the show several times and he refused. “I said I'd never have the courage to get up and sing in front of Simon Cowell.”

The interest from the producers of Britain's Got Talent stemmed from Fr Kelly's viral video singing 'Hallelujah' which has been viewed over 90 million times on YouTube. Fr Kelly explained that he was “totally confused” by the huge reaction to his singing.

“The whole country went mad for it. I was on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook. I was getting wedding invitations from all over the world.”

Fr Kelly was then signed with Universal Music and recorded two albums with them, a Christmas album and his debut album, 'Where I Belong', which was released in 2014. They also installed a music studio in his former home in Oldcastle.

Fr Kelly said that this was a “great” experience. “It's something that I never looked for, but it happened and I enjoyed it so much.” Since then, Fr Kelly has travelled the length and breadth of the US. “I've been over and back every year, I try to work there in September.” He also recorded his own album, 'Hallelujah Day', with music producers David Brunner and Nigel Wright.

The Kilcormac-based priest said that he loves Florida in particular as “the weather is always good.” He also enjoys visiting Connecticut and Boston given the high number of Irish people living there and has been to Chicago, Boston, Michigan and Ohio.

Fr Kelly is managed by an agent in America who books his jobs and Fr Kelly is hoping that they will be able to organise a number of concerts to celebrate the tenth anniversary since the viral clip of him singing 'Hallelujah' took the internet by storm.

Fr Kelly said that he was always interested in singing as his family as "very musical.” He was coached by an opera singer previously and he loves listening to music by Michael Bublé, Celine Dion, Robbie Williams and Take That.

Fr Kelly took part in Hymnos Catholic Festival in Hong Kong recently. He was originally invited to attend the event in 2020 and 2021 but couldn't attend due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “It was a great experience. We had a beautiful concert in the Cultural Centre in Hong Kong with over 2000 people and there were special guests there.”

The Westmeath clergyman had the opportunity to meet the newly-appointed cardinal of Hong Kong, Stephen Chow, and the Consul General of Ireland to Hong Kong, Jennifer Burke. He said that it was a “great experience” and that Ms Burke took him out for a meal.

Fr Kelly said: “Hong Kong was certainly a new experience for me.”

He said that he likes to go to America every year as he has a “lot of friends in America from the music business. That'll be my main port of call every year now.”

The local priest is hoping to do a duet with Susan Boyle at a concert that he is performing at in Glasgow next March. He also still sings at weddings whenever he is asked to perform.

Fr Kelly took on a new challenge in 2020 when he took part in Dancing with the Stars which he said he has “no regrets” about doing despite saying that he holds the record for the lowest score on the series after judge Brian Redmond gave him a one out of ten.

The talented singer explained that at the time he didn't realise that he was dancing with a torn cartilage which he believes occurred earlier in the competition during rehearsals. “It was hard work but great fun.”

Fr Kelly will perform at the Christmas carol concert in aid of Eglish and Drumcullen parish in the County Arms Hotel in Birr on Thursday, December 14.

Tickets cost €20 and can be purchased by contacting Eglish parish, by emailing xmasconcert23@gmail.com or by calling Coleen Spain on 085 1564494. All funds from the concert will go towards the upkeep of both parish churches.