Singing priests storm music charts

A trio of Catholic priests are storming the charts and breaking records with their debut album.

The Priests entered the charts at number five and has become the fastest-selling UK debut for a classical act as certified by Guinness World Records.

The album includes: Pie Jesu, Ave Maria, Panis Angelicus, as well as several classical arias and some traditional Irish songs and blessings.

Recorded in Ireland and in the Choir Chapel in St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, with the Choir of Philharmonic Academy of Rome, the album was released simultaneously in more then 30 countries to fulfil an unprecedented global demand.

The Priests are three Catholic Parish Priests from Northern Ireland. Fathers Eugene and Martin O'Hagan are brothers. They began singing with Father David Delargy when they were at school 30 years ago.

After leaving St. MacNissis, they followed their vocational training at the Seminary in Belfast, where Fr Eugene specialised in English and Scholastic Philosophy and Fr Martin and Fr David specialised in Ancient History and Scholastic Philosophy.

They signed a £1 million record deal with music giant Sony BMG on the steps of Westminster Cathedral in April. But they turned down £3 million American tour, because they said they put their parishioners first. They will giving all the money they make from their music to charitable causes.

The Priests can bought through our ICN shop on the Home page.