Culture
13 Oct 22

The Wolfe Tones defend Irish women's team as 'Celtic Symphony' hits No.1 on Irish Charts

The Wolfe Tones.

"If you don't like a song then don't listen to it but don't try to stop others from listening to it," Wolfe Tones frontman Brian Warfield said.

Following the controversy that stemmed from the Irish women's national team singing 'Celtic Symphony' to celebrate their FIFA World Cup qualifying win in the dressing room, The Wolfe Tones have defended their song and the right to sing it.

The Ireland women's team manager Vera Pauw and the FAI have apologised for any offence caused by the viral video of the team singing "ooh ah, up the 'Ra".

Statement from Vera Pauw on footage from Irish dressing room post game pic.twitter.com/nDcKakDPdk

— Gavin Cooney (@gcooney93) October 12, 2022

However, the writer of the song, Wolfe Tones frontman, Brian Warfield, makes no such apologies.

"The song they celebrated with was their own choice," he maintains. "It happened to be a great song written by me. I support the song the whole way through. If you don't like a song then don't listen to it but don't try to stop others from listening to it.

"Let this be the answer to those who try to control what we sing and we cannot sing... Let The People Sing!!" The Wolfe Tones man adds.

Let this be the answer to those who try to control what we sing and we we cannot sing … Let The People Sing!! pic.twitter.com/I1zh5pTA8M

— The Wolfe Tones 🇮🇪 (@wolfetones) October 12, 2022

Amazingly, all of this attention has caused the 1989 track to reach number one on the Irish iTunes charts, and to enter the UK charts.

Celtic Symphony No. 1 in Ireland, and has just entered UK charts, good night … pic.twitter.com/E3A1jKROua

— The Wolfe Tones 🇮🇪 (@wolfetones) October 12, 2022

The Irish band are on tour at the moment will play to a sold out 3Olympia Theatre on October 23. We can guess at least one of the songs they'll be performing...