THEIR PROPOSED versions of "Panis Angelicus" and "Ag Chríost an Síol" may not be typical boy band fare, but three Northern Irish Catholic priests were yesterday celebrating after signing a recording contract on the steps of Westminster Cathedral in London.
Fr Eugene O'Hagen (48), his brother Fr Martin O'Hagen (45), and their old school friend Fr David Delargy (44), all of whom are based in the diocese of Down and Connor, have previously performed in front of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict.
Their record label Epic Records, which is part of Sony BMG, says it will invest £1 million signing and promoting the act, to be known as The Priests.
Included in their "unique" contract are clauses which stipulate that they will never be required to do anything that would conflict with their religious beliefs. Similarly, it allows them to put their "day jobs" ahead of any performances or recording duties.
Fr O'Hagen said yesterday the three, who have sung together since their were young boys, were approached about the prospect of signing a deal only a few weeks ago.
"We made it very clear that our priority is our work as priests," he said. "And the company were very happy to accede to that."
He noted that this is the Catholic Church's Year of Vocations, and said he hoped that through the deal it might be possible to change people's perceptions of what being a priest means.
"[ Singing] is one of the things that makes us who we are," he said. "Maybe people will see that priests like ourselves are ordinary human beings.We just happen, I suppose, to be gifted."
The priests plan to donate a significant proportion of any earnings to a range of charitable causes. Fr O'Hagen said the exact details of this would be worked out later, with their as-yet-unnamed album expected to be released in November.
He did not think Irish boybands such as Boyzone and Westlife, whom Sony BMG also previously signed, need to worry too much about the competition they may be facing.