The Priests are three Roman Catholic priests from Northern Ireland who have been singing together since they were children. After signing a $2million record deal with SonyBMG in 2008 they have been recording an album in Ireland, London and have been allowed to record in St. Peter's Basilica, The Vatican.

Their debut album was produced by Mike Hedges who has worked with, amongst others, U2, Dido and Manic Street Preachers, and is released on 24th November by Epic Records. It will be launched simultaneously in 33 countries and precedes an ITV documentary and PBS special in America.

Who they are:

* Father Eugene O’Hagan is 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 is of the Parish of Newtownards and Comber. Diocese of Down and Connor.

* Father David Delargy is of the Parish of St. Michael the Archangel, Diocese of Down and Connor.

Record sales of debut album:

The Priests’ eponymous debut album recorded the biggest opening week of sales ever for a classical album.

The Priests, the album, shot into the UK album chart at number five in its first week and also topped the classical chart in its first week of release.

When the album was released in the UK, it was released in 33 countries at the same time and topped the charts in Ireland as well as making the top tens in album charts in countries as diverse as Spain, Norway and Sweden.

The Priests, Fathers Eugene and Martin O Hagan, who are brothers and their schoolfriend of 30 years ago, Father David Delargy, are signed up to Sony BMG's Epic label under a unique deal which stipulates that none of their recording commitments will ever be allowed to stand in the way of their day jobs of parish priests in their neighbouring parishes.

They have promised that a substantial proportion of the money made from the sale of The Priests will go to various religious based charities.

Nick Raphael, managing director of the Epic label and the man who spotted The Priests, said: "It is incredible that, in the UK alone, their debut album has taken by storm an album chart in which it is competing with massive acts like The Killers, Guns N Roses, Leona Lewis and Dido.

"It is also an incredible achievement that, in terms of the classical chart, sales of The Priests have outstripped anything that Luciano Pavarotti or more recently Katherine Jenkins shifted in the first week of sales for any of their albums."