THE Wolfe Tones called the curtains down on a 61-year career at Thomond Park last night – but left the door open for one last comeback.
Over 55,000 punters attended the band’s final two shows in Limerick over the weekend, with a massive singalong bringing the trio’s journey to a fitting end.
Singer Brian Warfield told The Irish Sun: “It was a sad moment going out on stage last night, no doubt about it.
“The end, but I tried not to think about about it too much or else I wouldn’t have been able to play.”
However, Brian said it might not be the last time fans see the three-piece on stage.
He told us: “It was my bandmate Tommy (Byrne) who pulled the plug on the band, but he told me over the weekend he’d be up for Croke Park next summer, which would be incredible.
“There’s so many fans who missed out on tickets for our last gigs, we’d love one more sing-song with everybody.”
The controversial balladeers got an eight-bike Garda escort from their hotel, Kilmurry Lodge Hotel in Castleroy, to Thomond Park for both of their final concerts at the weekend.
Brian joked: “It’s the first time The Wolfe Tones were led by the gardai and not being chased by them.
“It was a 20-minute journey but I think it only took a few minutes with the help from gardai, waving us through all the junctions.”
And the trad group claimed that Belfast rappers Kneecap, who have faced a backlash over their support for Palestine, are the perfect outfit to take over their role speaking up for injustices worldwide.
Brian told us: “The Wolfe Tones are passing the baton onto Kneecap. They are the Wolfe Tones’ successors.
“You can see the grief they’re getting over their support for Palestine but I’d say to Kneecap, keep going lads.
“The Wolfe Tones got terrible grief and we don’t get played on the radio but the internet saved The Wolfe Tones. It will do the same for Kneecap.
“Keep going lads. Keep going Kneecap.”
GIG WITH KNEECAP
The banjo player has also hinted that Kneecap would be the perfect act to join The Wolfe Tones if they played Croker next year.
Brian said: “That would be a hell of a show for everybody. We might even get Martin Brennan (the Irish farmer played by Steve Coogan) to come out and sing Come Out Ye Black and Tans with us as well.”
The ‘Tones popularity has soared in recent years, with 30,000 young fans swamping their tent at the Electric Picnic in 2023.
But their advanced years meant they decided to call it a day.
Brian told us: “I’d rather die on stage than in a nursing home but Tommy is 81 and wants to do other things.
“It was his decision to end The Wolfe Tones. So when he said at the weekend, he’d up be for a show at Croke Park next summer, I nearly choked on my pint.
“Maybe The Wolfe Tones are not over yet.”
CHEEKY DRONE
The group took to the stage at Thomond Park last night at 8.20pm and took their bows just after 11pm, playing hits including Grace, You’ll Never Beat The Irish and Celtic Symphony.
Brian said: “I really thought that was the last gig but maybe we’ll be doing it all again next year in Croker, now Tommy is up for it.”
The Wolfe Tones admitted they were amused over the weekend by a cheeky drone which flew over Belfast’s loyalist Shankill Road during the July 12 celebrations, flying a tricolour.
Footage of this went viral on TikTok to the soundtrack of The Wolfe Tones’ hit The Helicopter Song, written to celebrate the escape from Mountjoy Prison of three republican prisoners in the 1970s and still the fastest-selling Irish single ever.
KELLIE'S APPEARANCE ON STAGE
KELLIE HARRINGTON received raucous cheers as she joined The Wolfe Tones on the Main Stage at Electric Picnic last year.
The boxing legend was serenaded by chants of ‘Ole, Ole, Ole’ while she was draped in the tricolour.
In the aftermath of retaining her crown in the women’s 60kg division in Paris, the Dubliner did a bit of serenading herself as she led the crowd in a rendition of ‘Grace’ – a song synonymous with The Tones.
But she left the singing to the professionals on this occasion.
Brian said: “As I said, the internet has been brilliant for The Wolfe Tones.”
The musician admitted that one of the highlights of his career was Olympian Kellie Harrington joining them on stage at the Electric Picnic in 2023.
Brian said: “It was incredible, the audience stretched out as far as the eye could see for miles, as far down as the big wheel.
“It had a special significance for me as we were playing right in front of The Hanging Tree.
“There right in the middle of the crowd was the same tree where the men of 1798 were hanged. That’s why it’s called The Hanging Tree.”
The Wolfe Tones were bumped up to the Main Stage last year in response to a far bigger crowd than was anticipated showing up to roar them on during 2023’s set at a 6,000 capacity tent.
VIP guests at the weekend Tones show in Thomond Park included representatives of US police departments who flocked to the groups’ show in New York and Boston.
