The Wolfe Tones at Charlie´s Bar…

As most of you know, I invited The Wolfe Tones to play here at Charlies some time ago, and was absolutely delighted that they accepted. Apart from their music, they are a bunch of characters that are fantastic company and it’s so interesting to hear how their trip through life has been so far.

I knew a lot about The Wolfe Tones from following them over the years, but they surprised me in the way they operate. I couldn’t believe when they told me they had just finisished the American tour that they do every year, and that they performed 27 gigs across America in 27 nights, and by road! Let’s just say these lads have a few years on me and I think I would be sent home in a box if I tried that! Also, from watching them perform at Charlies, they really give it their all. They have more stage energy than a lot of 25 year olds that I know. I suppose this is because they believe so much in what they are singing – they are so passionate about what they do.

They are now 44 years on the road together spreading the message of Irish history through their music and their sense of humour. Having had a few pints with them over the last few nights it became clear to me that there is a huge story there to be told of their life on the road, the characters they have met, the laughs they have had…. and I’m sure Brian probably has drawers of songs and poems that he has written that were never recorded.

They have been seen to be very controversial over the years to some people who, let’s just say, are slightly uneducated. You will hear stupid statements like:

• they caused the troubles in the North
• they hate the English
• they support violence
• they are violent people

There is nobody better at putting their point of view across than themselves, but here is what I personally think of them and what they stand for.

First of all, they were on the road before any of the recent troubles started, telling the stories of Irish history. Secondly, they don’t hate the English! They have a problem with any sect of any society being oppressed by others. Remember, there are a lot of decent English folk who love The Wolfe Tones and their music. Also, it must be remembered that the English who trampled on the Irish for 800 years also trampled on their very own English working classes. They don’t support violence in any way and I’m sure they think it is such a crime that some of our own people had to die and be imprisoned, simply so that the Irish could have freedom and equal civil liberties in their own country, which they should never have had to die for in the first place, and there should have been no need for violence ever. Us Irish only defended and never attacked another nation.

The english who understand that it’s wrong to invade another country and make peasants of the people in that country by control and force have nothing to fear from any Irish Republican Nationalist, and quite the opposite is true – as can be seen by the millions of English who go to The Wolfe Tones´ concerts year after year and are welcomed with open arms. The Wolfe Tones are simply telling the story of Irish history and of some of the brave volunteers who achieved our independence and freedom – with their lives, in some cases, unfortunately.

Some English and even Irish people are against The Wolfe Tones because they believe it’s all in the past now. First of all, it’s our factual history; secondly, we should never forget those who had to fight for what was so basic in the first place and their efforts; and thirdly, it should act as a reminder and deterrent to others never to let something like this happen again, even though it’s happening elsewhere in the world as I am writing this.

I couldn’t believe it when they told me that no member of the Defence Forces in Ireland was allowed to go to a Wolfe Tones concert!

They have also been shunned by RTE, our national television broadcaster. An interesting thing that I learned from Brian was that the Meteor Awards in Ireland are controlled by RTE and that when you vote for the best band you send a text, but you can only choose from a short list of groups that they (RTE) have already picked. Come on RTE!!! Put The Wolfe Tones on the list and watch what will happen, just watch!

These three lads have taken so much stick over the years and given plenty of it back as well. They are semi-retired now and I would love to see them getting the respect and credit nationally and internationally that they well deserve – not only for themselves, but also for those who they sing about. Of course I know that they have huge respect around the World, but what p*sses me off more than anything is the way the Irish State is treating them, and some of the Irish people who don’t understand how we got to where we are today from being a bunch of badly oppressed, starving peasants who were controlled by force and power by the greedy…

To me it’s not important whether it was an Irish/English or catholic/protestant struggle. I would feel the same if it was a Donegal/Cavan or a Jewish/Muslim conflict. As far as I’m concerned it was a struggle for civil libertys and human rights against an oppressor. I’m just against any group of people oppressing another group, regardless of religion, colour or race.

Now we have another Wolfe Tones concert to go here at Charlies in Lanzarote, the last one on Friday (tomorrow) night. I hope that all the people who believe in peace, equal human rights and civil liberties for all – as The Wolfe Tones themselves do – will come and join us for another great night of music and entertainment, whereever you are from.

Tog a bog e

Ó Murchú