An Irish priest has become a global internet hit after stunning wedding guests with his rendition of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.

Fr Ray Kelly's performance has been watched on YouTube more than three million times in four days.

The parish priest of Oldcastle, Co Meath, surprised the couple towards the end of the service.

He told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback: "We had the rehearsal on Thursday evening and at the end I said, 'sure, maybe I'll sing a song for you myself'. Leah grinned and said 'OK sure' but I don't think she was taking it too seriously."

The video was filmed by a company owned by Patrick Rushe who said he was surprised with the massive reaction it received online.

"The band Sunlight who had been doing the music for the wedding had just finished singing when he put on the backing track, but people were still looking at them as they didn't know where the music was coming from - they were shaking their heads and saying it wasn't them.

"At the end of the song he got a standing ovation," he said.

"The couple are on their way to Mexico for their honeymoon but I sent them the link and they know it has been really popular.

"Chris says it's madness while Leah says her dad is freaking out, in a good way."

People have taken to Twitter to express their joy at watching his performance.

YouTube