The Mary Wallopers

The Mary Wallopers, an Irish folk music group, play The Great Hall - Cardiff University Students' Union in Cardiff on 16 October 2026 at 19:00. The group is based in Dundalk, County Louth, and began with brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy and Seán McKenna. In 2022 it expanded to include Róisín Barrett on bass, Brendan McInerney on drums, Seamas Hyland on accordion, and Finnian O'Connor on tin whistle and uilleann pipes. Seán McKenna announced his departure in March 2025, and in 2026 Donegal accordion player and multi-instrumentalist Catriona Ní Ghribín (Catriona Gribben) joined the group. The band built a large fanbase through gigs live-streamed from the Hendys' home during COVID-19 lockdowns.