Controversial Wolfe Tones song to feature on RTÉ just days after Electric Picnic success

Fresh from a packed out performance at Electric Picnic over the weekend, a controversial song by the Wolfe Tones will feature in a new RTÉ documentary tonight. 

Aistear an Amhráin starting on Tuesday night at 7pm on RTÉ One examines some of Ireland's most popular songs, starting with 'Come Out Ye Black and Tans', its 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.

The song came to prominence again in January 2020, when plans to commemorate the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) were put on hold by the Irish government as part of its 'Decade of Commemoration'. Come Out Ye Black & Tans beat Stormzy and Dua Lipa to the top of the iTunes charts in the aftermath of the controversy.

While the popularity of the band has endured for many decades, a number of their songs are never far from controversy. 

Celtic Symphony, with its Ooh ah up the Ra! chorus provokes much debate and landed the Irish women's soccer team in hot water when they were filmed on social media singing it in the dressing room after they qualified for the Fifa Women's World Cup. 

The band's version of Grace is particularly popular, as evidenced at their packed out performance at Electric Picnic. 

Brian Warfield of the Wolfe Tones recently had some heated exchanges with Joe Duffy on Liveline over their song Celtic Symphony. 

BREAKING: Joe Duffy has spontaneously combusted after hearing The Wolfe Tones drew record crowds at Electric Picnic. pic.twitter.com/S2f12JFcSE

— Dr Harold News (@DrHaroldNews) September 3, 2023

Over the weekend, the Wolfe Tones are believed to have played to the largest crowd ever in the Electric Arena marquee, which holds 14,000 people. The arena was packed out with many more standing outside to catch the show on screens.