Wolfe Tones' 'Come Out Ye Black and Tans' tops British and Irish iTunes charts

'Come Out Ye Black and Tans' has risen to number one in both the Irish UK iTunes charts. The traditional folk tune rocketed past Maroon 5 and Dua Lipa, in a delightful start to 2020. This comes in response to since-cancelled plans for a celebration event for the Royal Irish Constabulary (or RIC).

Many Independent ministers declined invitation to the event, and Fianna Faíl's Michaél Martin called it "an error in judgement" for the government. When the event was cancelled, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan denied that the event was tantamount to a celebration of the Black and Tans.

Taking to Twitter, the Wolfe Tones wrote: "Come Out Ye Black n Tans No. 1 in Ireland... Fine Gael got their answer." Rubberbandits member Blindboy Boatclub said "British radio better...play 'come out ye black and tans' now that it's number 1."

The song, which contains the lyric "come out ye Black and Tans, come out and fight me like a man,"  references the Irish War of Independence, Irish nationalism, and Ireland's struggles against the British Empire.