On what has been dubbed the hottest day in Ireland since 2022, Clontarf’s Fairview Park was the place to be as thousands gathered for The Mary Wallopers highly anticipated show as part of the 2025 ‘Summer Concert Series’. Shielded from the sun, under the high top, a small crowd had started to gather for the opening act, SexyTadgh when I arrived into the grounds. Sexy Tadgh was an act I had heard such good things about, but hadn’t seen until now. Safe to say, he lives up to his hype.
This multi-instrumentalist wasn’t still for one minute of his set, his boundless energy and his ability to rev up on audience was amazing, and he was flitting expertly between the keyboard and fiddle with incredible pace. His music was anthem-like and spoke a lot to the frustrations and hurt that was difficult not to find some resonance in. His music is eclectic but in the best way possible, it is honest and goes straight for the jugular, without reigning anything in. He has mastered a song that speaks to truth but melodically continues to be an absolute bop, a hard balance to strike, but Tadhg does. I would’ve happily stood through an entire concert of his, definitely a star that is only getting brighter.
There was a slight break between the end of SexyTadgh’s set and The Mary Wallopers, so I took the opportunity to wander the ground. It was the most sociable of evenings, a rare experience to be able to sit out in the sunshine and bask in the heat, and the punters were making the most of the opportunity, the vibe of the place was immaculate. The tent had started to fill in a bit more as the entrance of the Wallopers became imminent but many opted to watch the screens from the outside of the tent in the sunshine, and you couldn’t blame them. The Wallopers took the stage to rapturous applause. Every member of the band beamed out at the punters as they threw the hands up trying to get the crowd even more riled up. They expressed gratitude to the crowd for coming out and praised SexyTadgh for joining them on the night.
This group are well known for their raucous performances and the energy they bring to the stage and having watched SexyTadhg’s set it became apparent just how perfect of a match these two were. The Wallopers are similarly known for cutting straight to the point, with little ambling or pontificating around a concept, if something is to be said, safe to say they’re going to say it; very refreshing in my opinion. This Dundalk group are no doubt excellent entertainers with a loyal fanbase, who can expertly craft a show that could convert a patron into a fan within minutes. That certainly was the case for me, will be checking them out again.
SexyTadhg photos:
The Mary Wallopers photos:
Photos & Words – Lisa Hamilton @lisahamiltonphotography