26 New 260418 Fr Ray Kelly 4.jpg

A song of divine inspiration

 

Sean McMahon

Reporting from Oldcastle

 

The calm and tranquil setting that dominates the Parochial House in Oldcastle was a stark contrast on Monday evening to the glitz and glamour of the stage of the London Palladium and Britain’s Got Talent where local parish priest Fr Ray Kelly made a huge impression.

The parish priest has become an overnight international singing sensational after his audition was broadcast on ITV and TV3 last Saturday night. He is now the third favourite with the bookies to win the show outright - with odds of 10/1 - behind rival acts Rise and Marc Spellman. His popularity makes him a dead cert for the live semi finals.

 

 

Fr Ray’s rendition of REM’s ‘Everybody Hurts’ moved the audience to tears and earned him a standing ovation. His performance also prompted Simon Cowell to comment that it was one of his “favourite ever” auditions on the show; while all four judges put him through to the next round.

The Anglo-Celt visited Fr Ray Kelly in his home on Monday evening and, over cups of strong tea, the tired cleric had come right back down to earth after flying in from London a few hours earlier. He was fresh from his appearance on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ with Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.

The Celt also understands that he is likely to appear on the Late Late Show this Friday night.

 

See tomorrow's Anglo-Celt newspaper for full interview with Fr Ray Kelly