Dundalk outfit The Mary Wallopers have officially announced their forthcoming self-titled debut album, due for release digitally on October 21st.

The album is the culmination of several years of the Wallopers touring all corners of Ireland, collecting tradition songs before dusting them down and reimagining them in their Louth studio. The result is a record that perfectly channels an island’s musical history whilst never once sounding overawed by the task in hand. The Mary Wallopers album features eleven tracks arranged by the band and recorded at Ailfionn Studios in Dublin with producer Chris Barry.

The Mary Wallopers have also dropped their fan-favourite new single ‘Cod Liver Oil + The Orange Juice’ - the second track taken from the forthcoming album.

‘Cod Liver Oil + The Orange Juice’ is a Scottish song made popular by Hamish Imlach in the ’60s. It was written by Ron Clark and Carl MacDougal as a parody of the song ‘Virgin Mary Had A Little Baby’, which was big in folk scenes at the time. It was originally recorded for the 2019 EP (A Mouthful of Mary Wallopers) but it never received a proper release so a new version was recorded for their debut album.

This ode to drunken revelry and its associated romantic pursuits showcases the Wallopers talent for picking a great song and making it their own.

The band recently shared the first single from their debut album, 'Frost Is All Over', back at the end of August.

"'Frost is All Over' is a traditional Irish song about taking everything in your stride and not caring about what everyone says you should care about," The Mary Wallopers say of the new single. "We added the verse about landlords as we feel they are a sensitive sort who need reminding of how much we care about them. It was recorded by Chris Barry in his Dublin studio in 2021. It's an old song made famous by Planxty.

"The video was shot by Sean McMahon and the set was designed by Mark Sheridan," they continue. "Sean is from Dundalk like us and has worked on our livestreams before. It was shot in the old AOH Hall in Blackrock, Dundalk, which local music legend Conor Hughes allowed us to use. The video is our way of introducing the new band and how sexy we have become over lockdown. Our home studio / pub was too small to fit everyone in so we had to branch out but still keep it Dundalk.”

Brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy and their friend Sean McKenna formed The Mary Wallopers as a three-piece ballad group traveling the length and breadth of Ireland singing & collecting songs. Their early live performances exuded a raw energy and their first five-track EP captured their sound and ethos. Their identity as an outfit - which has now expanded to a seven-piece for live performance - is filled with warmth, intimacy, chaos and enough sparks ready to light any fire. .

Pre-order the new album here.

Tracklist

1. Eileen Óg
2. Love Will Never Conquer Me
3. Cod Liver Oil + The Orange Juice
4. John O’ Halloran
5. The Hackler From Grousehall
6. Building Up & Tearing England Down
7. Lots Of Little Soldiers
8. The Night The Gards Raided Oweny’s
9. The Frost Is All Over
10. Butcher Boy
11. All For Me Grog

The Mary Wallopers are gearing up to embark on their extensive tour of the UK and Ireland this autumn.

2022 Irish tour dates:

Thu 17 Nov - National Stadium, Dublin
Thu 1 Dec - Set Theatre, Kilkenny
Fri 2 Dec - Cyprus Avenue, Cork
Sat 3 Dec - Royal Theatre, Casltebar
Sun 4 Dec - Haven Marquee, Dunmore East
Wed 7 Dec - Kavanaghs Bar & Venue, Portlaoise
Thu 8 Dec - Séan Óg's, Donegal
Fri 9 Dec - Mandela Hall, Belfast
Wed 28 Dec - Mike The Pies, Listowel
Sat 31 Dec - Dolans, Limerick