Father Ray Kelly has been a Catholic Priest for 25 years and has always loved to sing, but when he decided to surprise a wedding couple with his rendition of “Hallelujah” on April 5th, his whole world changed. One of the guests at the wedding decided to upload a video of him singing to You Tube and within a few days over a million people had seen it. The video went viral, brining Ray to the attention of record companies and management teams all over the world.

This culminated in Ray striking a management deal with Big Life Management alongside artists such as the Scissor Sisters, Boy George, and London Grammar which in turn led to him signing a record deal with Universal Music, the biggest music company in the World. However, Ray has made it clear to everyone that he isn’t giving up his job as Parish Priest in the Co Meath town of Oldcastle.

Indeed to record Ray’s album, his producers have had to build a recording booth in the lounge of his house, so that he can attend to his Parish duties.

Born in Tyrrellspass, Co Meath in April 1953, Ray moved to Dublin and worked in the Civil Service and in 1982 he was called to the Priesthood and embarked on seven years of studies which culminated in him being ordained as a priest in 1989. He joined the St Patrick’s Missionary Society (Kiltegan Fathers) and worked as a Missionary in pre- Apartheid South Africa from 1991-1992 and did Mission Appeal work in the US. He then went on to serve as an Army Chaplain in the US and Northern Ireland. He went on to serve as parish priest in Nanan, Co Meath for 9 years.

Ray was appointed as Parish Priest in Oldcastle in 2006 and as one of his great loves was singing, he built a home studio in one of the rooms of his parish house to indulge his passion for his hobby.. He was often asked to sing at local events, but never thought it would lead to anything, until he sang at the wedding of Chris and Leah O’Kane.

And thanks to the power of You Tube and the internet, this chapter of Ray’s life is only just beginning.