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Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
'True rebels, true patriots': Thomond Park sees The Wolfe Tones play their final ever gig
The end of an era is the only way to describe the final ever live performance by The Wolfe Tones, and the trio at its core used their last concert to call for peace in Palestine, peace in Ireland, and also took a swipe at 'British propaganda' in the 1980s. After just over six decades together, the legendary Irish balladeers, who first announced their retirement at the end of 2023, said a final farewell to their fans as a summer heatwave broke in Thomond Park. Fans danced and sang in the rain, not allowing the weather to dampen the celebrations of a 60-year career. Limerick City was a sea of green on Sunday evening as 29,000 fans made the pilgrimage to the sold-out rugby stadium for the last time to see the rebel music band, the rainfall reflecting the tears of many of their devoted followers. Those in the crowd had accents from all corners of Ireland and beyond and sported 40 shades of green, Celtic ponchos, tricolour balaclavas a la Kneecap, and a spectrum of rain ponchos to the landmark event. Some of the fans enjoying the final farewell - Picture by: Kieran Ryan-Benson With support from Irish singer Dave Lofts and Scottish group Brógeal, the night in Thomond was a retirement do like no other. Taking to the stage at 8.15pm, Noel Nagle, Brian Warfield and Tommy Byrne were visibly emotional at the culmination of their musical career together, not least after some high-profile messages on the big screen. They came on stage after a recorded message from Mary Lou McDonald thanking them for being 'true rebels, true patriots' and singing the opening of Let the People Sing, before Kellie Harrington thanked them for teaching Irish people about their history. Kneecap also earned high-pitched cheers with their video tribute, which included the slogan 'tiocfaidh ár lá'. 'We are proud to have told the story of Ireland for 61 years,' Warfield told the crowd, reflecting on their gigs in the US and Australia during the Troubles before singing their opening song My Heart Is In Ireland. The band was not slow to call out international injustices during their swan song gig, and they called on Israel to return Palestine to the Palestinian people. Brian Warfield at Thomon Park - Picture by: Kieran Ryan-Benson 'The Wolfe Tones have always been concerned about people and peace in the world. I believe that Israel is going to cause the next world war,' Warfield said. 'They must give over the land to the Palestinian people. God knows we see the suffering of the children there.' As they sang Song of Liberty, several in the crowd held Palestinian flags aloft beside Irish tricolours. 'We have to fight for the people of Ireland,' Warfield said, citing hospital waiting lists as just one area he would like to see to. 'The Wolfe Tones are finishing up tonight but I will continue to fight for the Irish people.' The setlist included some of their most beloved and best-known tunes, including The Teddy Bear's Head, Come Out Ye Black And Tans, The Boys of the Old Brigade, God Save Ireland, and You'll Never Beat The Irish. Celtic Symphony was another tune that had the crowd on their feet, with its notorious verse of 'ooh ah, up the RA', echoing around the stadium before the group settled into a calmer pace with the ever-popular, The Streets of New York. A highlight reel from their decades-long career wouldn't be complete without 'the fastest-selling record in Ireland' at the time, 1973's hit The Helicopter Song. Unsurprising, Sean South went down well with the Limerick crowd, who were back on their feet to honour the Garryowen man. Wolf Tones Final Performance in Thomond Park, Limerick. It was in a high-paced mash-up with The Broad Black Brimmer, Big Strong Man, Rock on Rockall, Irish Eyes Are Smiling, and Some Say the Devil is Dead. They dedicated some time to the Easter Rising of 1916, paying tribute to James Connolly and Padraig Pease before telling 'the greatest love story in the world' with Grace, which ended with soloist Byrne bowing and thanking the crowd for their applause. His bandmate Warfield said he believes Byrne is 'one of the greatest ballad singers in the world.' Before singing The Ballad of Joe McDonnell, which received the loudest and longest applause, Warfield said the British government spread 'bullshit' about Irish people being terrorists at the time. Byrne said it is 'the best song that I have ever sung'. The Wolfe Tones ensured their fans were together On The One Road as their musical journey came to an end and hoarse fans left Thomond Park with a call for Irish unity and A Nation Once Again ringing in their ears along with the knowledge that they had been witness to a major part of Ireland's music history.
Sunday World
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
‘They don't like the Wolfe Tones' – Brian Warfield takes swipe at RTÉ during Thomond Park gig
Thomond Park is the last stop on the band's Final Farewell tour before they retire after more than 60 years performing together. Brian Warfield of The Wolfe Tones performing at the Electric Picnic in 2023. Photo: Kieran Frost/Redferns Brian Warfield of the Wolfe Tones has taken a parting swipe at RTÉ during one of the band's farewell shows. The long-running rebel music group played the first of two nights at Limerick's Thomond Park on Friday, with the second night scheduled for Sunday. Thomond Park is the last stop on the band's Final Farewell tour before they retire after more than 60 years performing together. During Friday night's performance, lead vocalist Warfield made a statement about the national broadcaster's treatment of the Wolfe Tones. 'They don't like the Wolfe Tones, do they? You don't hear them on RTÉ,' he told the audience. Read more Coalman convicted of Slane Castle killing had €322k cash hidden under false step in his house "They don't play our music on RTÉ. We have been blacklisted since Section 31, when Conor Cruise O'Brien brought in that awful, awful legislation to blacklist the Wolfe Tones all over the place.' Warfield was referring to Section 31 of the Broadcasting Authority Act, which was introduced during the Troubles to restrict those associated with paramilitary organisations from the airwaves. Warfield has long spoken about not having their music played on the radio going back to Section 31 being introduced in 1971. "We're retiring this year, we don't give a sh*t,' Warfield said.'Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, they can blacklist us all they like now, we don't care.' He said the band are very proud they 'put up a great fight against RTÉ'. "Their blacklisting of the Wolfe Tones, we're very proud of that. And that's a fight, and that was something not just for us, but for future generations coming along, and that's the important thing.' After Warfield's statement, the band headed into a rendition of their song The Streets of New York. Friday night's Wolfe Tones concert was added as an extra date after the Sunday night show sold out. A crowd of 29,000 concert-goers is expected for the second night.
Irish Independent
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘They don't like the Wolfe Tones' – Brian Warfield takes swipe at RTÉ during Thomond Park gig
The long-running rebel music group played the first of two nights at Limerick's Thomond Park on Friday, with the second night scheduled for Sunday. Thomond Park is the last stop on the band's Final Farewell tour before they retire after more than 60 years performing together. During Friday night's performance, lead vocalist Warfield made a statement about the national broadcaster's treatment of the Wolfe Tones. 'They don't like the Wolfe Tones, do they? You don't hear them on RTÉ,' he told the audience. "They don't play our music on RTÉ. We have been blacklisted since Section 31, when Conor Cruise O'Brien brought in that awful, awful legislation to blacklist the Wolfe Tones all over the place.' Warfield was referring to Section 31 of the Broadcasting Authority Act, which was introduced during the Troubles to restrict those associated with paramilitary organisations from the airwaves. Warfield has long spoken about not having their music played on the radio going back to Section 31 being introduced in 1971. "We're retiring this year, we don't give a sh*t,' Warfield said.'Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, they can blacklist us all they like now, we don't care.' He said the band are very proud they 'put up a great fight against RTÉ'. "Their blacklisting of the Wolfe Tones, we're very proud of that. And that's a fight, and that was something not just for us, but for future generations coming along, and that's the important thing.' After Warfield's statement, the band headed into a rendition of their song The Streets of New York. Friday night's Wolfe Tones concert was added as an extra date after the Sunday night show sold out. A crowd of 29,000 concert-goers is expected for the second night.
Irish Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Wolfe Tones drop Electric Picnic bombshell with verdict on surprise appearance
The Wolfe Tones singer Brian Warfield has said the band won't be making a surprise appearance to Electric Picnic. Earlier this month, organisers announced they had added Kneecap to the lineup for this year's festival, which takes place in Stradbally, Co Laois. But Mr Warfield ruled out that The Wolfe Tones won't be a last minute addition to the festival, which kicks off on August 29 until August 31. He told us: 'No. We weren't asked." But he said the band, who play Limerick's Thomond Park this Friday and Sunday night, have great memories from when they last played the summer festival in 2024. Last year, The Wolfe Tones' performance at Electric Picnic 2024 drew a crowd of 55,000 people to the main stage - A record attendance for the band's set at the festival. Mr Warfield said: "I think we have a great memory in our mind, and we'll hold that for the rest of our lives. I think that it was one of those special times over the 61 years. It'll never be forgotten. It was the biggest crowd ever at Electric Picnic. "It never happened before, and it hasn't happened since. Tommy was adamant he was going to retire. He's 81, pushing 82 so he had to make an end date.' Speaking about his own future projects, the Dubliner said he is reworking his play, Celtic Exodus for next year. 'I'm reworking my play next February. It was a great success. Everybody loved it. We'll try and get the same people back. Because I ran short of money last February, I had to cut some of the parts out." He jokingly added: 'I'm not poor, but everybody thinks of a millionaire.'
Irish Daily Mirror
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Brian Warfield believes there was plot to bomb bus before Miami Showband attack
The Wolfe Tones singer Brian Warfield has revealed he believes there was a plot to blow up the band's bus a week before The Miami Showband attack. The 50th anniversary of The Miami Showband attack will take place on July 31, which marks the day a fake British Army patrol, comprising of UVF members and Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) soldiers, stopped the band's minibus on the A1 road near Newry. A bomb, meant to explode later, detonated prematurely, killing two of the attackers. The remaining attackers then opened fire on the band, resulting in the deaths of three members: singer Fran O'Toole, guitarist Tony Geraghty, and trumpeter Brian McCoy. Two other band members, Des McAlea and Stephen Travers, were injured but survived. Now Mr Warfield says he believes The Wolfe Tones were also a target but the Glenanne gang but they escaped a roadblock being set up with the help of the local community. He told us: 'We were almost caught in a roadblock by the Glenanne gang. Only for the local community who steered us away from the blockade that was somewhere down the road on the way to Warrenpoint and they took us over the Mourne Mountains. 'We were playing in a marquee at a GAA club. It was later when we came off stage after the gig, one of the organisers called me over and said, 'you can't go home the main road tonight'. I asked why and said there was a roadblock down the road, and you are in danger. 'We avoided that roadblock. The Miami (Showband) were caught on the following Wednesday at a similar roadblock. I feel what they were trying to do was plant a bomb in our bus. 'The people with the local knowledge up there…. They knew what was happening. We were lucky we had friends on the right side where they could warn us whereas The Miami (Showband) probably didn't. After The Miami event, people said we didn't go up North, but we did. We brought different ways, we were met at different borders. 'We were brought down in hay trucks, we were in an armoured car at one stage. Sometimes they would split us up so we wouldn't be all caught together.' The Celtic Symphony hitmaker also praised Kneecap 'for their courage' – as he described Keir Starmer as a 'weak leader'. Last week, the UK Prime Minister said Kneecap's performing at Glastonbury was inappropriate after Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail after appearing in a London court on a terror charge. Mr Warfield said: 'The way they are attacking that young band… and fair play to Kneecap for their courage. They went out there and put their heart where they mouth was. 'I heard Keir Starmer's comments. He is kind of a weak leader. We've been talking about Palestine for years and brought Palestine flags on stage. 'It is important that we don't let bullies of this world stab people to death without mentioning a word about it. If we let the Israeli's away with stabbing those people, who is going to be next? 'I think Kneecap are a young band starting off and I'm happy that they are doing well and they are making a statement. They are doing the right thing. I mean we went through the Troubles in the North and we had to call out things back then, the wrongs that were happening. 'We got blacklisted for that, we never got played on radio. A lot of things happened that wouldn't happen to a young band if we had stayed quiet. We weren't that type of band. When we saw wrong, we called it out.' But Mr Warfield said he has 'no regrets'. 'No absolutely no regrets. I'd do it all over again. You have to make a statement and support what you believe in.'
