'Singing priest' Ray Kelly, known for 'Britain's Got Talent,' to perform at Cape Cod event

Father Ray Kelly, an Irish priest famous for singing at weddings and on “Britain’s Got Talent,” will perform Saturday, Oct. 12, in Hyannis to benefit Homeless Not Hopeless .

The non-denominational benefit concert will be at 7 p.m. at the St. John Paul II High School auditorium at 120 High School Road in Hyannis. Tickets, available at homelessnothopeless.org , are $25 or $100 for VIP seating. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

The concert will benefit Homeless Not Hopeless, a nonprofit founded in 2007 by three homeless people and their social worker. The grassroots group operates four shelters to provide transitional housing and life skill programs.

“This event will help support these life-changing efforts, and also hopefully bring visibility to the issue,” Richard Murphy, president of Homeless Not Hopeless, said in a written statement. “We serve women and men who, due to addiction, job loss, divorce, loss of a child, or other circumstances, find themselves without a place to call home.”

Father Kelly regularly tours to help raise funds for charities. Last year, after meeting Deacon Murphy, the Irish priest volunteered to come to Hyannis for a benefit performance, organizers said in a written release.

“We’ve been averaging one tour per year, seven to nine concerts in the U.S.,” said Kelly’s manager Trace Coryell in a call from her Florida home.

“He’s always sung at every mass in his 30-years-plus of being a priest because he was a singer before he became a priest,” she said.

A video of Kelly singing a version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” at the 2014 wedding of Chris and Leah O’Kane went viral, earning 92 million views. Kelly went on to sing R.E.M.’s  “Everybody Hurts” in 2018 where he was described as judge Simon Cowell’s “favorite audition ever.” Kelly, in his mid-60s when he became internet-famous, also participated in Ireland’s “Dancing With the Stars" and recorded albums, including "Where I Belong" in 2014 and "Hallelujah Day" in 2021.

“He didn't win, but he had a really good time with both of them,” Coryell said of Kelly's television appearances.

Asked if Kelly’s widespread recognition has affected his work as a parish priest, Coryell said, “People have been lured back to church or started to go, and there are a lot of people visiting the church.”

Masses were broadcast live at Kelly’s former parish, St. Bridgid’s & St. Mary’s in Oldcastle, Meath County, where he served until May 2023.  “The televised mass on Saturdays and Sundays drew a lot of viewers,” she said.

Kelly is now an associate pastor in Kilcormac, Rahan and Eglish parishes in County Offaly., according to the Offaly Independent newspaper.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: 'Singing priest' Ray Kelly, known for 'Britain's Got Talent,' to perform at Cape Cod event