A BBC One Northern Ireland documentary will tell the story of three Parish Priests who made headlines around the word when they burst onto the music.
The Priests: Faith and Fame, featuring the Parish Priest of Newtownards and Comber, Fr Martin O’Hagan, along with his brother Fr Eugene and Fr David Delargy, will be broadcast on Sunday, March 16, at 7pm.
In 2008, the then President of Sony Epic records Nick Raphael was looking for a priest to record a version of the Latin Mass. When he saw a clip of Frs Martin, Eugene and David Delargy auditioning together, he immediately signed all three.
“There are certain things you look for in a recording artist. The Priests ticked none of the boxes, but when you see something that is magic, you break all the rules,” said Nick.
Looking back to their audition, when they believed only one of them would be selected, Fr David said: “At that time I was Parish Priest in Hannahstown and I thought if Eugene and Martin are auditioning for it, I don’t think I have much chance but I will throw my hat in to the ring anyway and give it a go.”
When the recording of the audition made its way back to record bosses the impact of the three voices together was clear. Nick Raphael said: “I knew in my gut 10, 20 seconds in. It was Eugene’s twinkle – his look to the camera. We made our minds up. It was done – it was instantaneous.”
They were given the band name The Priests and soon went on to sign a three album recording contract at Westminster Cathedral in front of the world’s media for £1.4 million.
“Well we were completely bowled over by this – it must have been my good looks,” jokes Fr Martin.
The Priests: Faith And Fame hears from the priests themselves as well as the record executives and industry professionals who discovered them and helped catapult the group to worldwide fame.
