The Mary Wallopers - Paddywhackery (2026)
A lively and enjoyable mix of traditional Irish folk and punk energy, with plenty of personality, humour and some genuinely good songs.
Paddywhackery combines traditional Irish instruments with a more direct rock sound, keeping the political anger and rebellious attitude that define The Mary Wallopers. The accordion, banjo, pipes and guitars work particularly well together, giving the album a very organic and energetic character.
“The Juice” is my favourite track. It has one of the strongest melodies on the album, and I particularly enjoy the way the arrangement develops into a lively instrumental section. It captures the band's ability to make traditional Irish music feel immediate and exciting without losing its roots.
“Crowns of England” is another strong track, with a catchy melody and a sharp political message, while “The Big Mixer” has a great collective energy and an effective chorus. “Landlord's Demise” works well with its more stripped-down arrangement, and “The Mickey Dam” brings some welcome melancholy to an otherwise very energetic album.
I particularly enjoy the contrast between the festive atmosphere and the often serious subjects. The band manages to address inequality, Irish identity and social struggles without becoming too heavy or preachy. The performances feel spontaneous, and the production keeps enough rough edges to preserve that impression. There's also a genuine sense of fun running through the album, which makes even some of the more traditional arrangements feel fresh.
My main reservation is that several songs follow a similar pattern, with energetic rhythms, shouted choruses and traditional instrumental passages. Not every song is equally memorable, and I sometimes feel that the collective energy is stronger than the songwriting itself.
But the relatively short running time works in its favour, and there's enough variety, humour and personality to keep things interesting. A very enjoyable album that I can easily imagine being even better live.
67/100
❤️ Favourite track: “The Juice”
+ Excellent energy and traditional instrumentation
+ Strong personality, humour and political songwriting
+ Concise, lively and enjoyable throughout
– Some repetitive song structures
– Not all melodies are equally memorable
– A few songs rely more on energy than songwriting
Genre: Irish Folk
Country: Ireland
Final Verdict: 67% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 124th / 737
Highlight: The Juice
Made me think of:
The Pogues
The Rumjacks
Dropkick Murphys
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