Wolfe Tones announce second date as they sell out 3Arena in minutes

The Wolfe Tones have announced a second 3 Arena date after their first 60th Anniversary gig sold out in a matter of minutes. 

In addition to their gig on October 12, 2024, the band will be playing a second gig on October 11, with pre-sale tickets currently on sale through Ticketmaster. 

The band has been enjoying something of a revival recently, particularly after record crowds saw them play in front of a packed out Electric Arena at Electric Picnic. 

Never far from controversy, the 'Ooh ah, Up the Ra' line in Celtic Symphony regularly sparks debate and landed the Irish Women's team in hot water when they were heard singing it after securing qualification to to the FIFA Women's 2023 World Cup. 

Joe Duffy recently criticised the band on his Liveline Show, with some heated exchanges with singer Brian Warfield, which appears to have increased the popularity of the band even further. 

They also featured recently on Aistear an Amhráin on RTÉ One, which examined some of Ireland's most popular songs, starting with 'Come Out Ye Black and Tans'. The show looked at the song's roots and recent resurgence in popularity.

The song has had a number of waves of popularity over the years. 

In March 2019, The Wolfe Tones hit number one in Ireland and the UK with Come Out Ye Black & Tans after Steve Coogan famously launched into a rendition of the republican ballad on the BBC's This Time With Alan Partridge through his Sligo farmer character Martin Brennan.

In the sketch, he starts off with Sweet 16 but quickly veers into The Men Behind the Wire and Come Out Ye Black & Tans.