REVIEW: Mary Wallopers at Leeds O2 Academy
- Natasha Judge
- Mar 18
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 19
The Mary Wallopers did not disappoint in starting the St Patrick’s Day celebrations as they took to a packed gig in Leeds.
Performing a mix of traditional Irish songs with a few original tunes mixed in, the Dundalk group created an atmosphere that was nothing short of lively, and good craic.
Right from stepping foot on stage, it felt as though there was a real connection within band and audience, and one of the lead vocalists - Charles Hendy, expressed the band’s excitement for playing in Leeds, and jokingly said:
‘If yous search Leeds up on Wikipedia it says sexy c**ts!’
Performing hits such as The Blarney Stone, The Holy Ground, and Frost Is All Over - to name a few. The crowd were jumping and singing along, with a few crowd surfs and mosh pits for good measure.
The set was tastefully designed, as weaved throughout the energetic track listing were moments of real raw emotion. Songs which are still very much prevalent today were performed by brothers - Charles and Andrew Hendy. During the show there were references to Palestine, the landlords and rent government rulings in Ireland, and corrupt businessmen (to not directly mention a certain automotive company CEO).
You could feel a sense of unity both within the band mates and the crowd, with comedic one liners and jokes shared within the band. Bassist Róisín Barrett joined in with bantering with some of the returning audience members. Ken Mooney on drums, and Finnian O'Connor on tin whistle and uilleann pipes are also a credit to the ensemble - the band together provide a stellar soundtrack.
The band, though, are a member down, as Seán McKenna departed the band before kicking off with this tour. There is no bad blood, and they addressed it in the evening, and got the crowd to cheer for him. Though the departure of McKenna was sad to see, it has allowed for further banter within track Rothsea-O, as it provides for a playful moment for a member of the crowd to take his name.
‘Awh Sean McKenna is a dirty lout,
he said he’d treat us all to a pint of stout,
so as quick as we could we all went out
to a public house in Rothesay-O’
It is no wonder the group have many groups of dedicated fans, who have joined them several times this leg of the tour as the band truly do know how to put on a gig.
The band and crowd connection felt personal and sincere, and the group were often seen to be smiling at the crowd, and even performed the track Off to Dublin in the Green, which has been rarely played by the band this leg.
Also, the gig was supported by SexyTadhg who delivered a fantastic set, their vocals and stage presence was excellent, and they definitely warmed up the Leeds crowd.
When closing the show, The Mary Wallopers wished everyone a Happy St Patrick’s weekend, even then the concert wasn’t over yet. The track Dirty Old Town started playing from the speakers, which stopped the tracks of most attendees as the crowd - both in stalls and balcony - were singing along in unity.
The band is a definite one to watch live, having previously seen them in the Leadmill tent at Tramlines, the band brings endless joy, and really connects with the crowd - something that feels a little more rare these days.
The Mary Wallopers tour continues this month with dates still in Sheffield, Cambridge, Cardiff, Nottingham, Bournemouth, Oxford, Norwich and London. Further details can be found here.
Setlist:
Bould O’Donahue
The Turfman from Ardee
The Rich Man and the Poor Man
The Holy Ground
Banks of the Roses
Smuggling the Tin
Building Up and Tearing England Down
Madam I’m a Darling
Rothsea-O
The Night the Gards Raided Owenys
Landlord Song
Wexford
Gates of Heaven
The Blarney Stone
Eileen Og
Cod Liver Oil and the Orange Juice
Frost is All Over
Off to Dublin in the Green
All for Me Grog
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