‘I cried a lot about it’

The public are continuing to vote for Fr Ray Kelly and he has survived to dance another day in in RTE's 'Dancing with the Stars'.
The Oldcastle parish priest danced the Salsa to 'Feeling Hot Hot Hot' in Saturday night's show, which saw Sinéad O'Carroll and Ryan McShane eliminated after facing off against Lottie Ryan and Pasquale La Rocca in the dance-off. 
Fr Ray says he is really enjoying 'Dancing with the Stars' at the moment, despite threatening phonecalls and cruel remarks by some members of the public.
He was interviewed on RTE's Liveline last week about the abuse he has received since taking part in the competition and a film of him talking about that abuse was shown on Claire Byrne Live, last night, Monday.
While Fr Ray felt he had to report one phonecall he received, which was highly abusive and threatening, he says 99.9% of the messages he has received have been supportive.
On Joe Duffy's Liveline last week, there was a call from a man who felt Fr Ray should stop, the Oldcastle Parish Priest got a lot of phonecalls of support.
“Since I said I was doing the show, I've had a few nasty letters and messages. One woman reminded me that John the Baptist was beheaded over a dance, while another woman suggested it would be a great Lenten sacrifice if I pulled out of the competition for Lent,” he says. 
On Claire Byrne on Monday night, he said he almost quit the show over the abuse he was receiving.
“I cried a lot about it. I felt I didn't deserve it. I got a lot of negative backlash after the first couple of weeks because my dancing wasn't great. I said 'I've had it. Get me out of here.'"
His dancing has clearly improved and this has been remarked on by the judges.
“I’m still not the best dancer in the world. I'm not 30. I’m 66 and my body doesn't move as fast, but I'm enjoying it,” he says.
Fr Ray spoke of all the letters of support he received including one from a 12 year old girl who described him as the “funniest priest alive".

 

* Dancing with the Stars continues tonight (Sunday) at 6:30pm on RTE One.