The Mary Wallopers, 'Smuggling The Tin' // GemsOnVHS™

When I arrived in Dublin I texted Charles, from the Wallopers. Take the bus to Dundalk, he said, and when you arrive call a Black Rock cab and tell them to take you to The Mary Walloper's house. Wow, I thought, they must be well known. I didn't have phone service yet, so I started my way there old-school style, disconnected. When I arrived in Dundalk, I went to the bus station and asked for a Black Rock cab.

When the cab arrived, I got in and told him to take me to the street the Wallopers told me to go to. "Never heard of it, and I've lived here all me life," the driver told me in an accent so thick I could barely make it out. Unsure what to do, my phone without service, 10000 miles from home, I sat helpless as he drove around. About ten minutes later, he miraculously remembers the road. "Do ye know the house number?" he asked as we drive out to the middle of nowhere, farm fields on either side. "The Mary Wallopers house," I answered, as Charles had instructed.

"Never heard of them." he replied. So much for being well known. I sat back again, unsure what to do. We drive down a road that feels like something Tolkien had written about, old twisted Ent-like trees canopy on either side, rolling green hills and old stone walls passing by.

"If it's this old cottage at the end, I tink I know the one," the driver's memory sparks up, apparently out of nowhere once again. He drives me up to an old farm house, with several old cars and boats in various states of disassembly. I get out and he immediately drives off, leaving me very hopeful this is the house, because if it isn't i'm stranded. Charles had left a key above the door, so burglar-esque I feel around the frame and, to my surprise, find it. I'm at the right place, home alone at the Mary Walloper's HQ. They'd been at a session the night before, so I wait it out. Several hours later, they arrive back, apologizing for having had car trouble (a theme that will replay multiple times, I find).

The next day, they took me to this castle, and a winding tour of the border lands between Ireland and Northern Ireland. They tell me stories, tales, some tall some short, and give me the history of the battles, the characters and the songs that make up their lives. This is the first song, the first installment of a many part series, and I hope you love it as much as I did.

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[GemsOnVHS]

aaand we just released even more adventures and songs in this Mary Wallopers movie;

[grantgilligan]

“To hell with the border, we’re in the free state” this gives me an insane amount of goosebumps for some reason

[sorleythebard]

Sounds fucking class lads, up the Mary Wallopers!

[neilshocks]

Future of irish folk music, mighty band, best a luck to them

[ShapeyFiend]

In a genre highly concerned with authenticity can happily confirm these guys are pure cracked. Dying to see them live again.

[cascadecodymusic]

There are people who sing songs and there are people who live and breathe songs. These guys are so steeped in sincerity and are paving a new style of Irish Folk that is gritty truthful and humorous! This life is a little better knowing that the Mary Wallopers are putting in work and playing those songs that belong in a canon that is literally miles deep!

[IHACKER]

Absolute banger, one of my favourite songs ever . I have listened to this 50+ times

[prangbro]

Wow wasn't expecting them to tack on "Sí bheg, sí mhor' at the end, pure class!

[cedarriver]

Love this SO much. Grew up on Irish folk music, travelled there a couple of times and loved every single second. Thanks for the music and the wonderful recording!
Chords and lyrics below as always folks! The outro is not 100% as they play slight alterations, but thats the basic idea

Intro G D / G A / D / G A D
Verses G D / G A
Chorus D / G A D
Outro D / G D / G A D / D / G D / G A D / G D A

[Intro]

[Verse 1]
Young Kenny and Colley and ould Martin Quinn
We made up together to smuggle the tin

[Chorus]
With me right toorin-arinan, right toorin-arinan
Right toorin-anay

[Verse 2]
We walked all the day boys till the heels they grew raw
We hadn't the comfort of lying in the straw

[Chorus]
With me right toorin-arinan, right toorin-arinan
Right toorin-anay

[Verse 3]
"I'll yoke her", says Colley "I'm wise to her tricks"
The more that he yoked her, the more the mare kicked.

[Chorus]
With me right toorin-arinan, right toorin-arinan
Right toorin-anay

[Verse 4]
"I once had a Piebald all covered in spots
Manys the fiver she won in her trots."

[Chorus]
With me right toorin-arinan, right toorin-arinan
Right toorin-anay

[Verse 5]
Up comes an ould sergeant with a laugh and a grin
"I'll put ye in jail boys for smuggling the tin"

[Chorus]
With me right toorin-arinan, right toorin-arinan
Right toorin-anay

[Verse 6]
Up jumps the ould sergeant with a laugh and a smile
"I'll put ye in jail boys for smuggling a while"

[Chorus]
With me right toorin-arinan, right toorin-arinan
Right toorin-anay

[Verse 7]
Well up jumps young Colley for to make this excuse
"If you'll let us all be sir, it's home we will scoot"

[Chorus]
With me right toorin-arinan, right toorin-arinan
Right toorin-anay

[Verse 8]
We made our way home and we blessed our own faith
"To hell with the border, we're in the Free State"

[Chorus]
With me right toorin-arinan, right toorin-arinan
Right toorin-anay

[Outro]

[krakenfury]

thanks to this, i've discovered sam shackleton, lisa o'neill, lankum, the dubliners, liam weldon, dick gaughan, the high level ranters, the boys of the lough, and tony mac mahon, to name a few. this is no longer a rabbit hole, it's just where i live now.

[l_r_a_start_fox]

My first time hearing irish folk and its awesome!

[josephmccarthy]

Anthony, idk how you make these field recordings sound so authentic but keep it up.

[CommunityTheatre]

“The thing is, it’s actually our castle” These guys are natural performers, looking forward to hearing more!

[bobbymay]

"some people like to say that's the uk over there, but its not, what is it?... its Ireland still." made me feel a way.

[anchuisneoir]

Didn't expect to see the lads here! Great stuff.

[shurley]

Class stuff lads! Great to see gems on VHS here in Ireland. Quality as always.

[speyman]

Good on yah...From Willard Ut...County Cork was our homeland prior to the potato famine..Great duet..and fantastic locations..We sorely miss Ireland..

[Connor-fnvv]

You guys rock, I’ve always loved folk music and you bring it to me. Best subscription I’ve ever made.

[danielholmes]

"Some people over there have the nerve to call it the UK"
You boys call it the uk on your own tour date
Love your music boys, keep it up.
Looks like a scene from Fr Ted when the people approach over the hill !

Anthony I've been a viewer of gems now for a long time...brilliant work.
Thanks for introducing me to Lost dog, Josh o O'Keeffe, Hill country devil and Sierra Ferrell etc.











2

[AG-iowr]

This was fun playing my bodhrán along to. Cheers from Maine.