Fr Ray's Concert of Carols
International singing star and Oldcastle parish priest, Fr Ray Kelly, will be the main attraction at a Concert of Carols in St Brigid’s Church on Sunday 18th December at 7.30pm.
Just weeks after the death of Leonard Cohen, who wrote ‘Hallelujah,’ the song Fr Kelly is best known for, he paid tribute to the late Canadian songwriter and poet and said he was grateful that he had agreed to him using the song with the words changed.
The Concert of Carols in Oldcastle has always proved very popular with parishioners, but since Fr Ray shot to fame two years ago, when a recording of him singing at a wedding in Oldcastle went viral, the event has become a major attraction.
Two weeks ago Fr Kelly performed in the National Concert Hall for the first time. He was accompanied by a live band and the choir from St Oliver Post Primary School in Oldcastle under the direction of their music teacher, Ms Dara McSwiney.
“My special guests were Maria Butterly a wonderful singer/ songwriter from Laytown. I also had my niece Tara Kelly singing with me on the show.”
On Monday night, they took that show down south to The Opera House in Cork.
“Ever since the death of Leonard Cohen in early November, many people have been asking me on my thoughts since his death, particularly since I recorded his song ‘Hallelujah’ with the words changed to suit a wedding.
“I remember travelling up to Castleblaney in October 2014 to perform one of my first concerts, when Christian Seitz from Vienna the producer of my first album ‘Where I Belong’ phoned me excitedly, saying ‘great news, great news Ray, Leonard Cohen has agreed to allow us to put ‘Hallelujah’ on the album with the words changed to suit a wedding’. Needless to say it was great news because that was the song everyone wanted to hear on the album.
“So I guess I owe Mr Leonard Cohen a big thank you for agreeing to that, and for the enjoyment it has brought to so many people as well as the enjoyment he has given through his music and poetry to the whole world.”
Fr Ray says his life has been pretty hectic juggling a life between being a parish priest and performing concerts, but his focus now is on Christmas in the parish of Oldcastle.
“I do hope as many as possible can come along on the night. I will have local artist Ann Galligan with her beautiful voice as well as my brother, Joe.
“Copies of my album ‘Where I Belong’ and my Christmas album ‘An Irish Christmas Blessing’ as well as a Christmas DVD of many of the Christmas songs recorded at the Concert of Carols last year will be available on the evening. It promises to be a great night so do come along.
“May I take this opportunity to wish everyone who has stood by me and supported me a wonderful Christmas and many blessings in the New Year of 2017,” he concluded.