Vocal trio the Priests blend sacred repertoire, classical arias, Christmas carols, and traditional Irish songs in an approachable manner. The founding members—Father Eugene O'Hagan, Father Martin O'Hagan, and Father David Delargy—originate from Northern Ireland and first performed together while attending St. MacNissi's College. They subsequently prepared for ordination at the Irish College in Rome, where an invitation arrived to perform during a papal liturgy. After returning home to assume separate parish duties, the three maintained their joint performances alongside full-time ministry work.
Their broad appeal secured a deal with RCA Victor, leading to collaboration with producer Mike Hedges, known for work with U2 and Sarah Brightman, on the 2008 debut The Priests. The release climbed to number two on Billboard's Classical and Christian charts, reached number 66 on the Billboard 200, and registered on charts throughout Europe plus Australia and New Zealand. Proceeds from these recordings supported local parishes and retired clergy. Their follow-up, Harmony, arrived in 2009 with reduced attention yet still appeared on nearly a dozen national charts, including top-three placements in Sweden and New Zealand. Worldwide sales surpassed three million albums by the end of 2010, when the group issued the seasonal collection NOËL on the SWM7 label. Their 2016 release Alleluia combined traditional hymns, Irish songs, and classical pieces with a rendition of "Eleanor Rigby."
