behind the music with

The Mary Wallopers

From Trad to 'Irish Rock 'n' Roll'

by Giovanna - October 31, 2023

The Mary Wallopers, a contemporary Irish folk music group based in Dudalk, were fonded by brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy and their friend Sean McKenna, who started traveling around Ireland to sing and collect traditional songs.

During the lockdown, they gained a substantial online following by regular live streaming from their home studio. Over the years, the band expanded to a seven-piece ensemble, establishing a strong reputation as a live act. The band's members include Andrew Hendy on banjo, Charles Hendy on guitar, Sean McKenna on guitar, Seamas Hyland on accordion, Finian O’Connor on pipes and whistles, Roisin Barrett on bass, and Ken Mooney on drums.

Following the success of their self-titled debut they recently released their second album, "Irish Rock ’n’ Roll," on their own BC label. The release of this album coincides with an extensive tour in the UK and Ireland from November to Christmas. "Irish Rock ’n’ Roll" captures the essence of their live performances, blending chaos, humor, and excitement with emotional traditional ballads passed down through generations, as well as their original songs set to become part of future generations' musical heritage.

(l-r): Finnian O’Connor, Seamas Hyland, Charles Hendy, Róisín Barrett, Seán McKenna, Patrick Critchey and front – Andrew Hendy. Photo: Sorcha Frances Ryder.

We saw you at the Reeperbahn Festival, performing in the sweaty and overcrowded KarateKeller. Everyone adores your folk-meets-punk attitude -and your mullets! Was it your first time in Hamburg?

It was our first time in Hamburg but we didn’t get to stay too long. We will be back again for longer next time to torture everyone with our rowdy ballads!
Now that you've expanded to a seven-piece, could you introduce us to the new band members? Are they also from Dundalk?

We have Finnian O Connor on pipes who is also from Dundalk. On Drums we have Ken Mooney, he’s from Dublin but we couldn’t turn him down cause he’s too good at the drums. On bass we have famous Portlaoise Legend Róisín Barrett.
Your first-ever Canada/USA tour earlier this year went sold-out! Why do you think you've gained such popularity on ‘the other side of the pond’? What was it like performing at the Bowery Ballroom?

I think we gained a lot of fans in Canada and USA from our lockdown livestreams. Bowery gig was amazing: so much energy and a great first gig in New York.
Do you have any 'behind-the-scenes' stories about the creation of your second album, 'Irish Rock'n'Roll,' and the recording process?

For a few days I think some of us may have had covid during the recording and we’re pretty sick. You can actually hear how stuffy my voice is in 'The Holy Ground' take.
The new album features a mix of traditional Irish ballads and, for the first time, original songs. Could you tell us more about your own songs?

For a long time we’ve been working on writing our own songs for Ther Mary Wallopers and it’s great to have a few on the album now. It’s a tricky thing to write songs that will sit amongst traditional songs that have developed over (sometimes) hundreds of years, now that we’ve started though we are going to be milling them out.
You're undeniably a band that thrives in a live setting, and this year you've been on the road almost non-stop. However, what do you guys enjoy doing apart from making music?

When we’re not playing music a lot of us love messing around with old cars and vans and hanging out in beautiful Dundalk with our friends and playing PlayStation.

The Mary Wallopers RELEASES ON HBN

behind the music with

From Trad to 'Irish Rock 'n' Roll'

We saw you at the Reeperbahn Festival, performing in the sweaty and overcrowded KarateKeller. Everyone adores your folk-meets-punk attitude -and your mullets! Was it your first time in Hamburg?

Now that you've expanded to a seven-piece, could you introduce us to the new band members? Are they also from Dundalk?

Your first-ever Canada/USA tour earlier this year went sold-out! Why do you think you've gained such popularity on ‘the other side of the pond’? What was it like performing at the Bowery Ballroom?

Do you have any 'behind-the-scenes' stories about the creation of your second album, 'Irish Rock'n'Roll,' and the recording process?

The new album features a mix of traditional Irish ballads and, for the first time, original songs. Could you tell us more about your own songs?

You're undeniably a band that thrives in a live setting, and this year you've been on the road almost non-stop. However, what do you guys enjoy doing apart from making music?

The Mary Wallopers RELEASES ON HBN

Irish Rock N Roll

The Idler

The Blarney Stone

Wexford

The Holy Ground

The Mary Wallopers

Cod Liver Oil and the Orange Juice

Frost Is All Over