Wolfe Tones celebrates its 60th anniversary with a huge homecoming show in Dublin

The rioting troubadours celebrate their diamond milestone on October 12th and ticket sales begin on Friday September 15th.

It is a rare occasion when an artist pulls off such a remarkable feat in the world of entertainment and the organizers promise it will be the grandest of celebrations.

“This will be a historic night in the history of this most iconic Irish group as they celebrate their 60th anniversary,” they declared. “This is an event not to be missed in Dublin, the hometown of the Wolfe Tones.”

Throughout their career, The Wolfe Tones have entertained generations of Irish music fans around the world, from humble beginnings in Dublin to the hallowed halls of New York’s Carnegie Hall and the Paris Olympia.

From 1964 until their most recent record-breaking Electric Picnic extravaganza, the group, whose music is revered by Irishmen Abroad, have entertained fans around the world, many of whom are expected to return for the Homecoming special.

The Wolfe Tones surprised many music lovers when they performed at Electric Picnic’s Electric Arena to the largest crowd in the festival’s 14-year history.

Formed 60 years ago, the band somehow managed to capture the zeitgeist of 2023, with rebel songs written and released countless years before many picnickers were even born.

A spokesman for Electric Picnic said: “The Wolfe Tones drew the largest crowd ever to Electric Arena, with fans enjoying the music inside and outside the tent and singing along to every song.”

A live clash erupted between the band’s lead singer Brian Warfield and Joe Duffy on RTÉ’s Liveline last month.

Duffy told Warfield at the time he didn’t want to hear “all the nonsense” about the meaning behind Celtic Symphony’s heated chorus – “Ooh aah up the ‘Ra'”.

Warfield has repeatedly stated that the song was written in 1987 after seeing the words on a wall in Glasgow.

The song was written, as the band previously said, for Celtic Football Club’s 100th anniversary a year later.

The song also caused controversy in the Belfast Féile last month, with Jim Allister, leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice, saying the lyrics offend victims of IRA violence.

One fan took to social media to praise the band’s performance at the Picnic in Stradbally, Co. Laois, declaring: “The popularity of the Wolfe Tones and Irish rebel songs continues unabated. Long may it continue.”

Another said, “This tent is too small for the Wolfe Tones.” And another wrote, “And the Wolfe Tones crowded into a tiny tent at the Electric Picnic.”

Another added, “Wolfe Tones unpacking a 10,000 seat tent full of young minds at Electric Picnic, not to be missed… One to watch folks.”

Another young fan, wearing a tri-colored Tiocfaidh ár lá scarf, wrote: “Up to the Glasgow Celtic, up to the Mary Wallopers, up to the Wolfe Tones, up to the Electric Picnic.”

Last month a Unionist MP condemned the “disgusting Provo lyrics” read by the Wolfe Tones on the closing night of Féile an Phobail in Belfast.

Around 10,000 fans attended the festival finale at Falls Park in west Belfast on Sunday evening.

Video footage shows many fans singing along passionately, shouting “Ooh, ah, up the ‘RA.”

TÜV chief Jim Allister has criticized the Northern Ireland Charity Commission for failing to take action against pro-IRA chants in recent years.

“Once again West Belfast became a terror festival with its ‘Up the Ra’ finale,” he said.