The Wolfe Tones formed in 1964
The end of an era as The Wolfe Tones have announced that they will be retiring next year, after a whopping 60 years together. As part of their big anniversary, the band will be touring around Ireland, visiting some of the country’s biggest venues before they hang up their instruments.
Following their gigs in Belfast’s SSE Arena and the 3Arena in Dublin next October the lads will be officially retiring. The band also this morning announced a gig at Galway Airport as part of Galway Summer Sessions on Friday, August 23.
Speaking to the Irish Sun, singer Tommy Byrne said that the band wanted to “go out on a high” after such a successful and lengthy career.
“I never thought that we would go on so long,” Byrne said to the publication, “It’s been absolutely amazing, but I’m 80 next year and I think that would be a good time to stop.”
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Beginning in Dublin’s Inchicore in 1964, the band took their name from Theobald Wolfe Tone one of the leaders of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, and also a sound that can impact violins. Combining traditional music into their music, the Wolfe Tones have penned many classic contemporary Irish anthems including Irish Eyes, Celtic Symphony and Joe McDonnell, alongside covering several high-profile rebel classics.
This September the band drew in the largest crowd in Electric Picnic’s Electric Arena in the festival’s 19-year history, with UGC footage showing crowds gathered outside the tent.
An Electric Picnic spokesperson at the time said, “The Wolfe Tones drew the biggest crowd ever in the Electric Arena, with fans enjoying the music inside and outside the tent, singing along to every song.”
