The Priests are:
Father Martin O'Hagan
Parish of Cushendun.
Church of St. Patrick (Craigagh), Church of St. Mary, The Star of the Sea (Culraney).
Father David Delargy
Parish of Hannahstown.
Church of St. Joseph and Church of St. Peter, the Rock.
Father Eugene O'Hagan
Parish of Ballyclare and Ballygowan.
Church of The Sacred Heart and Church of The Holy Family.
Es ist nicht davon auszugehen, dass die drei katholischen Priester Father David Delargy, Father Eugene O’Hagan und Father Martin O’Hagan ihre Gemeinden in Nordirland im Stich lassen, sie werden weiterhin Beerdigungen, Hochzeiten, Taufen und Messen abhalten.
Dennoch beginnt mit der Unterzeichnung des Plattenvertrages mit dem Majorlabel Sony Music für die drei Iren ein völlig neues Leben.
Bereits seit den gemeinsamen Schultagen träumten David Delargy und die Brüder O’Hagan davon, einer eigenen Gemeinde in der Diözese Down And Connor vorzustehen, um sich den spirituellen Bedürfnissen der dortigen Gläubigen zu widmen.
Mit der Unterzeichnung des Plattenvertrages auf dem Stufen der Kathedrale von Westminster betreten sie nun unter dem Namen The Priests berufliches Neuland. Dem Trio ist durchaus zuzutrauen, mit ihrem am 14. November 2008 erscheinenden Debütalbum gleich einen internationalen Topseller zu landen. Der Erstling der The Priests ( u.a. aufgenommen im Vatikan zu Rom) enthält 14 religös und spirituell inspirierte Klassiker und versprechen einen Hörgenuss sondergleichen.
The Priests are:
Father Eugene O’Hagan of the Parish of Ballyclare and Ballygowan: Church of The Sacred Heart and Church of The Holy Family. Diocese of Down and Connor
Father Martin O’Hagan of the Parish of Cushendun: Church of St. Patrick (Craigagh), Church of St. Mary, The Star of the Sea (Culraney). Diocese of Down and Connor.
Father David Delargy of the Parish of Hannahstown: Church of St. Joseph and Church of St. Peter, the Rock , Diocese of Down and Connor.
It was at St. MacNissi’s College near Carnlough in Co Antrim, where Father Eugene O’Hagan, Father Martin O’Hagan and Father David Delargy met for the first time and realised their musical prowess as a singing trio. Nicknamed Holy Holy Holy by their peers due to their shared determination to enter the priesthood, it was a priest at their school who first noticed how talented they actually were.
After leaving St. MacNissi’s, they followed their vocation 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. During that time they all studied under the Belfast based singing teacher Mr Frank Capper MBE.
The Priests concluded their training at the revered Irish College in Rome where Fr. Eugene studied there for 7 years, Fr. Martin 5 years and Fr David for 4 years.
Whilst in Rome Eugene took advantage of the fact that he was able to have signing lessons from Sergio Ballani. Almost immediately their combined and rare talent was recognised. They were invited in person by the Pope’s private secretary, Monsignor John Magee (the Papal Master of Ceremonies) to sing for the Pope in the sacred liturgy.
The Priests’ careers overlapped once again as they all eventually returned to Ireland, where they began their work in various special ministries. Each now lives the life of a full time Parish Priest, tending the spiritual needs of their parishioners and official duties at all church services including those to mark the christenings, marriages and funerals of members of their catholic community.
