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Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary

The Singing Irish Priest Fr. Ray Kelly (ep. 420)

Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary

John O'Leary

Self-improvement, Bestsellingauthor, Education, Dailyinspiration, Society & Culture, Liveinspired, Johnoleary, Inspiration, Joebuck, Inspiredliving, Onfire, Relationships

4.9672 Ratings

🗓️ 16 December 2021

⏱️ 49 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Fr. Ray Kelly, affectionally known as the singing Irish priest from Britain's Got Talent, became a worldwide sensation. The video of him singing a touching rendition of "Hallelujah" went viral with more than 80 million views.

With an astonishing ability to connect with others through his remarkable singing, Fr. Ray joins us to share his fascinating journey from parish priest to Britain's Got Talent fame.

Today's episode is an early Christmas blessing that's sure to delight.

SHOW NOTES:

  • Moving from civil service, Fr. Ray became called to priesthood, becoming an ordained priest at 36 years old.
  • Understand the power of Christmas. Say "no" to overconsumption + commercialism and "yes" to helping others.
  • After recently losing his beloved dog Buddy, the song "I'll Be Home for Christmas" takes on even more of emotional meaning.
  • Watch Fr. Ray Kelly sing his rendition of "Hallelujah" for newlyweds Chris and Leah here.
  • Learn more about Fr. Ray Kelly here.

If you enjoyed today's episode, you'll love our Musicians playlist. Hear lessons (and music!) from legendary performers including Lauren Daigle and Walker Hayes. Listen to the Musicians playlist now.

FR RAY KELLY'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

  1. Q. What is the best book you’ve ever read?
    A. Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela.
  2. Q. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today?
    A. Confidence.
  3. Q. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be?
    A. The platinum disc of my debut album Where I Belong.
  4. Q. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? 
    A. I'd want to have my sister back with me again.
  5. Q. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? 
    A. I've been inspired by my parents' hard work and their parenting.
  6. Q. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? 
    A. My heart is in my songs.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

I want you to think about how much life has changed in the last 10 years.

0:06.6

Professionally, technologically, politically, globally, in your relationships,

0:12.2

think about how much change you have experienced, how different life is.

0:15.9

Well, for the last 10 consecutive years, Keeley Companies has been named a top workplace by St. Louis

0:23.9

Post's batch.

0:25.4

Their most important assets are their people, also known as the Keelians, and are credited as

0:31.9

the backbone of their business.

0:33.9

You can learn more about the Keely Company's dedication to their employees by visiting

0:38.4

keelie Companies.com.

0:41.4

Welcome to the Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary. John is the number one national

0:50.6

bestselling author of the book On Fire. He's a world-class inspirational speaker, and he's the host of the live-inspired podcast.

0:58.2

John interviews extraordinary individuals on their life story so that you can wake up from

1:03.7

accidental living and more fully live your life story.

1:08.1

Here's your host, John O'Leary.

1:16.4

No way. You got him? You really got them?

1:24.4

Well, my friends, it was that joyful response that I heard from my daughter Grace that allowed me to recognize. We got someone on this podcast with and for you today that

1:30.0

you're going to love. A couple weeks earlier, Grace introduced me to a gentleman named Ray Kelly

1:36.2

singing a song called Hallelujah. Ray Kelly was not only any normal guy. He was a pastor, a priest in Ireland. And the Hallelujah

1:45.8

version he was singing was not just any version of the song. It was one that he was

1:50.6

singing specifically for a bride and groom on the day that they were married in front of him.

1:56.5

It was a beautiful video and the more I learned about Ray's story, the more I learned about

2:02.3

his heart and the more I learned about his voice, the more I wanted to share his life with

...

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