Three singing priests are set to become unlikely chart stars after signing a £1 million record deal with the label behind Britney Spears and Bruce Springsteen.
Fathers Eugene O'Hagan, Martin O'Hagan and David Delargy make a somewhat unusual boyband, but executives at record giant Sony BMG have every faith in their talents.
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They are set to release a debut album under the name The Priests which will include parts of the Latin Mass, the traditional Catholic hymns, Ave Maria and Panis Angelicus, and a selection of opera classics.
The trio - dubbed 'Father Ted meets Westlife' - travelled from their parishes in the diocese of Down and Connor, Northern Ireland, today to sign their record contract on the steps of Westminster Cathedral in London.
Uniquely, it contains a clause specifying that they will not be required to undertake any promotional duties which interfere with their day jobs, or participate in any activity which conflicts with their religious beliefs.
Nick Raphael, the Sony BMG executive who signed them, explained: "They are not giving up their proper jobs and we will have to work to their schedules. Obviously they won't be available for TV appearances on Sunday mornings."
Father Eugene, 48, and Father Martin, 45, have been friends with Father David, 44, since their school days and entered the priesthood at around the same time.
While studying at the Irish College in Rome, they received singing tuition and went on to perform in the Vatican Choir.
Back in Ireland - they are the parish priests for Ballyclare, Cushendun and Hannahstown respectively - they began performing together and earlier this year came to the attention of Sony bosses.
Mr Raphael said: "We were thinking of making a recording based on a Latin Mass and needed someone to sing it. Ireland seemed like a good place to start, and we were put on to these three. We asked them to send us a DVD recording and we couldn't believe the quality of their singing.
"They had to get permission from the church to work with us and made sure the bishop was happy for them to do it. They were quite shocked by our interest but very excited. We are unaware of any other priests who have become recording artists. The closest thing we can think of was the Singing Nun back in the 1960s."
The Priests' album is due for release in November - in time for the Christmas market - and proceeds will be put towards local charities.
Father Eugene said the record deal may be "God's design".
Asked about the trio's musical leanings, he replied: "We have very Catholic tastes."
Father David, who disclosed that his first record purchase was Parallel Lines by Blondie, said: "Singing is very much what we do. This is bringing it to a wider audience. We are singing sacred music."
Father Martin, who enjoys "a bit of jazz and very relaxing music", explained that the clause in their contract would allow them to carry out parish duties, such as weddings and funerals.
"Our work means a great deal to us. We are priests first and foremost. Our work will be at the heart of our plans," he said, adding that he hoped record-buyers would be "uplifted" by their music.
The trio were asked what they thought of three other well-known priests, the inhabitants of Craggy Island on Channel 4 comedy Father Ted.
Father Martin joked: "We're the real McCoy," while Father Eugene pronounced the show "very funny" but stressed: "We're a bit of a different line-up."
Outside the cathedral, the priests were approached by their first female fan. But their heads will not be turned by the rock star lifestyle.
"I think we'll be keeping our feet firmly on the ground. We have not let ourselves get too carried away," Father David said.
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