The Mary Wallopers

First formed in 2016, Dundalk contemporary folk group The Mary Wallopers rapidly established themselves as a band wanting to breathe fresh life into traditional Irish ballads. Originally a three piece comprising brothers Charles and Andrew Hindy and their friend Sean Mckenna, the Wallopers released their debut EP in 2019. By the time they visited Norwich Arts Centre in October last year they had evolved into a six-piece ensemble, with drummer, pipes and whistle player, and bass guitarist, together beefing up their sound. At the time they were touring to promote their eponymous new album, and they certainly made a big impression on their enthusiastic Norwich audience. This year, their autumn and winter tour has seen them gigging further afield, travelling around Europe in September before heading off to the United States for 12 dates in October. Now, in November, they are back, playing 14 UK venues before finally returning to Ireland for 12 sold out gigs in December. Last Sunday they were at Epic Studios in Magdalen Street.

Support came from Falkirk five-piece Brògeal, with a lively combination of Celtic folk and rock influences, energy-filled bursts of accordion, and some lively, shouty songs with which to kick things off. Standout tracks included the bright and breezy 'Sunday Morning' and 'You'll Be Mine', as well as their gentle love-song to Glasgow, 'Dirt and Daydreams'. The band admitted that Norwich is the furthest East that they have ever, so far, travelled, and they leave us with a cheery football shout of 'Let's be 'aving you!'

The Mary Wallopers open with 'Bold O'Donaghue', the fanciful drinking song originally written and recorded by Tommy Makem, and set in the 19th Century. It concerns a poor young Irish lad who reckons he would make a very good second husband to the widowed Queen Victoria. Slightly irreverent, it somehow sets the tone for the entire evening, with the Hendy brothers never taking themselves too seriously, and yet still able to instil a staunchly social and political angle to much of what they sing about.

There is a wide mix of ages at Epic Studios tonight, most of whom seem to be well up for a few drinks and a dance, and The Mary Wallopers do not disappoint. Songs like 'Rothsea-O' are lively and full of fun, with sing-along choruses that are impossible not to become caught up in, even if the subject matter, rather topically, is about catching fleas and bed-bugs from a budget boarding house (cue cheeky references to Holiday Inn Express). The brother's craic is hilarious, although their liberal peppering of c-words and other assorted expletives means that this is no Daniel O'Donnell night out, and some of the more conservative couples in the audience might have been slightly taken aback by some of the between-song banter.

However, it is the music that we are all here for, and during a generous set of no less than eighteen songs we are treated to a broad range of styles, from the ponderous 'Love Will Never Conquer Me' to the powerful and moving 'John O'Hallorhan', a song about leaving Ireland to find work in England. It is performed a-capella, and features a dramatic and chilling bodhrán accompaniment.