Irish to the core
Belt of the Celts
Irish to the core
The Wolfe Tones
Shanachie through Larrikin
Reviewed by Ian Jamieson
Like many on the Australian left, particularly those of us with dubious Irish ancestry, I came to appreciate Irish culture through a myriad of rebel songs — nearly always sung in convivial Irish republican gatherings. There was nothing more enjoyable than railing at the Sassenach, gombeens and gobshites and singing of an Ireland united and free.
Rooster of a fighting stock/ Would you let a Saxon cock/ Crow out upon an Irish rock/ Fly up and teach him manners.
The release of two new CDs by well-known Irish band Wolfe Tones is a welcome addition to any repertoire of Irish nationalist and cultural songs. With a total of 27 tracks, including many old favourites and some new, the Wolfe Tones have shown that they are still fresh 25 years after their first album.
The Wolfe Tones are very much a product of the recent phase of Irish "troubles" that began in 1968. Throughout their career as musicians they have become a premier band expressing the voice of the republican movement in Ireland.
Not only do their songs reflect the struggle for a united Ireland, but the Wolfe Tones have added a cultural depth. Their powerful voices have given life to old tunes that were once relegated to a quaint nostalgia of ancient battles.
The band are not afraid to incorporate new material either. Many of the songs they arrange relate directly to the fight to free Ireland from Westminster control.
There are many old favourites in the two new releases — "The West's Awake", "Bold Robert Emmet", "General Monroe" and "Kevin Barry", to name a few. There are also new arrangements of a couple of famous Irish melodies where lyrics of Irish pride have been added to "Si Beag, Si Mor" and "The March of the King of Laois".
The raw energy of the Wolfe Tones is immediately infectious. Their arrangements are different from many other traditional bands that have come to the fore over the past 20 years. Their style is similar to that of the Dubliners, and while tight and polished, they avoid the technical precision common to tune smiths in Ireland today.
The Wolfe Tones' strength has always been with lyrics and the nationalist pride they generate.
The release of the two CDs coincides with the 25th anniversary of the civil rights march in northern Ireland that spurred the massive protest against British rule. What better way to commemorate the Irish movement than to learn a few new songs for your repertoire.