Madcap Irish upstarts, The Mary Wallopers, have announced a new album, Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll, to be released October 6 through BC Records.

Made up of brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy (guitar and banjo respectively), Sean McKenna (guitar), Seamas Hyland (accordion), Finian O’Connor (pipes/whistles), Roisin Barrett (bass) and Ken Mooney (drums), the group have also released a new single and video, ‘Wexford’, to mark the album announcement. Charles’ stirring vocals lead this traditional, poignant tale of a Wexford Traveller. Speaking of the single, penned by Pecker Dunne, Andrew says “‘Wexford’ is one of the most beautiful songs in the ballad tradition… It touches on [Dunne’s] upbringing and on the grief that Travellers suffer in Ireland… We’ve always gravitated towards that side of folk … the kind you can just stand on the street singing. Pecker Dunne wrote so many funny songs, which makes it even more hard-hitting when he’d sing a song like this.” The Wallopers, too, veer between poignancy and ribaldry in an effective swing. This single follows the recently-released ‘The Holy Ground’, a more upbeat track that showcases the humour and energy that The Wallopers inhabit as brilliantly as they do more tender-hearted numbers.

And if you want to see one of the group’s epic performances, you have plenty of options. They’ve announced a mass of tour dates spanning July to December this year and stretching from Hungary to Glasgow. Tickets are available to fans who have pre-ordered the new album from today (Wednesday, July 19) and to everyone from Friday, July 21. All information can be found on The Mary Wallopers website.

Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll is available for preorder here.