Irish Rock’n’Roll

‘Well here I am from Paddy’s Land,’ sings Charles Hendy in the opening line of ‘The Bauld O’Donoghue’, the first track on Irish Rock’n’Roll. And it’s true, The Mary Wallopers have certainly arrived. The Dundalk troupe have seen their fanbase spread well beyond the borders of their homeland, with recent live shows and TV appearances on both sides of the Atlantic. If last year’s self-titled full-length debut offered an introduction to their style – songs from the session bulked up with punk mettle and riotous enthusiasm – the follow-up is putting it all on show.

Irish trad has always served anti-establishment anthems dressed up as bawdy drinking ballads, but on Irish Rock’n’Roll The Wallopers are doing away with the euphemisms, offering a blunt and savage takedown of modern Ireland’s political structures. ‘The Idler’ sees them take aim at landlordism, the military and direct provision – Ireland’s draconian asylum system – while lead single ‘Wexford’ is a simple and sincere cover of Pecker Dunne’s account of growing up as an Irish Traveller – a track made all the more affecting by its lack of embellishment. The music is of course excellent, with bodhráns, banjos and whistles played feverishly. But alongside the playful musicianship and roguish delivery, Irish Rock’n’Roll is a penetrating listen, whose messages hit like a hammer blow.