Ronan O'BrienThe Mary Wallopers were one of the big acts at this year’s Galway Arts Festival. Following the release of their sophomore album, Irish Rock N Roll, the Dundalk group rocked the Heineken® Big Top to its core.
The Wallopers
Before The Mary Wallopers, brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy started their music career as TPM. Shorthand for “Tax Payers’ Money” the rap duo garnered attention with satirical anti-establishment tracks like “All the Boys on the Dole“ and “Fuck RTÉ“. The Louth lads joined forces with Seán McKenna to start performing Irish folk as The Mary Wallopers. The success was quick to follow, as comparisons to The Pogues and The Wolfe Tones were hard to shake. Like most in the industry, COVID-19 affected the band, but it did not stop them from performing. Instead, they ingeniously turned to livestreaming performances from their home which became an instant hit.
Following easing of restrictions, the lads were back on the road. This time, they expanded the group, recruiting Róisín Barrett on bass, Brendan McInerney on drums, Seamas Hyland on accordion, and Finnian O’Connor on tin whistle and uilleann pipes. Unfortunately, Seán McKenna left the group earlier this year, while Seamas Hyland was replaced with Ken Mooney. The new recruits gave the group a larger sound, allowing them to evolve from playing pub corners to global stages. Playing nearly every corner of the world at this stage, The Mary Wallopers have gone from strength to strength. Notable performances include Glastonbury and Jools Holland Hootenanny in 2024.
Their first studio album, The Mary Wallopers was released in 2022. A fantastic display of their ethos, covers like “Eileen Óg“ and “Cod Liver Oil & The Orange Juice“ were huge hits. Reimagined with their own style, these songs in particular have become synonymous with The Mary Wallopers. Following this success, their sophomore album Irish Rock N Roll was released in 2023. The albums are fantastic, but the live performances are where the real energy lies.
Doors & Opener
Opposite the cathedral and just outside NUIG, the big top was in fine display. The familiar Galway rain was present, but that didn’t dampen any spirits. The tent was spacious and the setup was good to give credit where it’s due. After a small wait, we were met with the opening act, SexyTadhg. Draped in a faux mermaid outfit was Tadhg themselves, with the rest of the band in sailor-themed attire. Their energy was fantastic, they were as excited to be there as anyone. They were proud to be the supporting act, for the 26th time.
Musically, they were good. Instrumentally, they were quite well gelled. The vocals were fantastic, and their energy was there to match. Personally, it wasn’t quite my style of music. Their songs felt a bit all over the place, but I think that was intended. It’s quite hard to pin down their style, but the jazz elements definitely explain the looseness to the songs. What I did like, was their championing of the Irish language, performing some tracks as Gaeilge. Serving as an opening act is never easy, it’s a glorified soundcheck. However, SexyTadhg handled it well. They had fun, and their energy was infectious. A resounding cry of “Free Palestine” erupted the crowd and we were ready for the main event.
The Main Event
To the soundtrack of “Good Looking Woman”, the group entered the stage. No messing, no time to think, they were straight in. Opening with “Bould O’Donoghue” it got the crowd going. Fast-paced and immaculate in their execution, it was like seeing The Pogues. With that comparison, many would expect to see some drunkards on stage stumbling through the set. But not these lads. The energy was kept up with more fast-paced tracks, like “Turfman From Ardee” and “Madam I’m A Darlin'”.
Not long into the set, Andrew substituted his banjo for a bodhrán and a performance of “Rich Man And The Poor Man” . The downtempo songs continued, with beautiful renditions of “Building Up and Tearing England Down” and “Wexford”. Don’t be fooled, there was no lull in the energy at all. The crowd was merry, rowdy and happily sneering at the insults thrown to the Gardaí, all in good fun. On that note, the energy started picking up again, with songs like “The Night The Gards Raided Owenys”. The performance of “The Blarney Stone” was the point where things got chaotic, in a good way. The final sprint of songs included “Eileen Óg” and the ever-familiar “Cod Liver Oil & The Orange Juice” before the band departed.
Double Encore
The encore saw the reintroduction of Tadhg, fiddle in hand, to the tune of “Frost is All Over” which had the place bouncing harder than ever. Well drunk at this stage, I was in awe at how well the group can play, especially at that fast pace. A resounding applause was followed by the depressing walk in the lashing rain. Typical Galway. However, the gig was one I had on my bucket list for a while, and for good reason. The energy that The Mary Wallopers bring to every performance is admirable. It can be hard to feel proud to be Irish these days, but that night I had green white and gold pulsing through my veins. And plenty of whiskey too.
The Juice
Following a string of Irish performances, the band announced a new single, “The Juice“. A slightly different approach to their usual style, this original song takes a slightly more rock approach. According to the band, the song is about “partying when you feel the weight of the world and society pressing upon you“. It opens with upbeat drums and a jangly guitar sound, accompanied with the hum of bagpipes. It’s instrumentally heavy, with the guitars playing some beautiful riffs which seem to serve as the choruses. There is a bagpipe solo at the latter end of the song, which is introduced superbly with “This is Irish rock ‘n roll”.
In true Mary Wallopers fashion, the song is lyrically satirical. There are some fantastic lines throughout, and it’s evident from the beginning. The opening lyrics sound comfortingly familiar, “There’s nothing in the press / There’s nothing on the telly / I feel a bit sick ’cause there’s nothing in my belly”. This continues throughout the track, with the likes of “One for sorrow / Two for joy / It’s the shit / I’m the fly” giving that relatable tone to anyone who feels down on their luck. It’s always refreshing to hear original music from the group, but their talent of making covers their own is so impressive in itself.
Final Thoughts
The Mary Wallopers are a must-see act for anyone. It’s more than just immersing oneself in Irish music. It’s an experience. Anyone who has had the pleasure of jumping around with a belly full of porter and pride of Irishness in their hearts will know what I mean. And those who don’t? Go see The Mary Wallopers.
