AUCKLAND One of a priestly trio taking the music world by storm is picking Ireland to overcome the All Blacks at Croke Park in Dublin on Sunday morning (NZ time). The debut album entitled The Priests by a trio of the same name made up of Fr David Delargy, Fr Eugene OHagan and Fr Martin OHagan will be released in New Zealand on November 17 and in 31 other nations around the same time.

The album features Ave Maria, Panis Angelicus, O Holy Night, and Pie Jesu alongside traditional Irish, Spanish and other pieces.

The trio, all parish priests in the Northern Ireland diocese of Down and Connor, have been the subject of articles in Time magazine, The Guardian and hundreds of other media outlets worldwide.

But despite a heavy schedule of promotional and media engagements on top of parish work, Fr Delargy told NZ Catholic the priests will be glued to our screens to watch the rugby international.

Hes hopeful Ireland can reverse its record of never having beaten the All Blacks in more than a century of competition.

I think there is a very good chance that they will, Fr Delargy said.

We will be . . . cheering for our own local team.

Although he has no New Zealand connections, Fr Delargy said he has heard glowing accounts from friends who have holidayed here.

I have, for a number of years, harboured the desire to one day travel to New Zealand. Its one of the countries that I would very much like to visit.

Fr Delargy was impressed by the Kiwi scenery that formed the backdrop to the Lord of the Rings movies.

He said there are no plans for a tour by The Priests, because it would be difficult to take too much time away from their parish work.

But he doesn't rule a future tour out completely, but said this would need creative thinking.