The Mary Wallopers review: Folk heroes transform Cork's Marquee into their local pub
Charles Hendy led the audience in a packed Marquee in Cork through singalongs of The Mary Wallopers'Â hits but performed some new tunes as well. Picture: Larry Cummins
It was a triumphant return for the Mary Wallopers in Cork City on Friday night, as the Dundalk band transformed the big top at the Marina into their local pub, blasting familiar favourites and a couple of new ones as well.
It has been quite a climb for the Mary Wallopers, who are at the head of an Irish revival in the six years they have been performing.
From performing sessions at Dundalk pubs, to sold out gigs in Fairview Park and Cork City Hall, the band has been on a purely upward trajectory, radiating pure energy and ecstasy in their ever-burgeoning fanbase.
It was a sunny July evening in Leeside as thousands descended down to Live at the Marquee. Droves of young people celebrating the weekend, singing as they made their way past the Marina Market.
Friday nightâs sold-out gig â following other sold-out performances from Amble and Kingfishr â saw sweaty gig-goers erupt in laughter, screams, and chants of 'Free Palestine'.
Artist SexyTadhg opened up the Marquee gig with confidence, energy, and dances with their violin hyping up the 5,000 people in the crowd.
The Hendy brothers, alongside RĂłisĂn Barrett, Brendan McInerney, Seamas Hyland, and Finnian OâConnor, took to the stage shortly after 9pm. A Palestinian flag hung behind them.
âItâs good to be back in the real capital of Ireland,â Charles Hendy yelled at the crowd as they roared.Â
"Whereâs the banjo," he asked as he pointed at his brother Andy before starting off the session.
It was a mixed audience filled with young people, but also older generations ready to jump and dance the night away.
Charles, as he sang while playing the bodhrĂĄn, dedicated the song to the likes of Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Elon Musk.
"This is a Cork song. Itâs about drinking and whoring and fishing,â Andy uttered before playing
âWe donât encourage this but who else in here is all about drinking and whoring about?â he asked before the audience roared back and raised their hands.
Other fan favourites that the band performed included , , , and .
Itâs the first gig for the band in Cork City since the departure of Sean McKenna in March this year, and is the latest of the summer concerts at Live at the Marquee.
Cian Ducrot is set to return to Leeside for two sold-out nights this weekend, before British hip-hop group D-Block Europe take the stage next week.
