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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Ian Mangan

'Come Out Ye Black and Tans' reaches top 5 in Australian music charts after soaring to number 1 in Ireland and the UK

After taking the top spot in the Irish and UK charts, The Wolfe Tones have now infiltrated Australia with their famous track 'Come Out Ye Black and Tans'.

The 1972 classic shot to number one in Irish iTunes charts following controversy surrounding a planned Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) commemoration which the government was forced to postpone after furious backlash.

The Wolfe Tones revealed on social media that their song had managed to reach number 4 in the Australian music charts last week.

And the group has pledged to donate all money made from the release to Wildlife and firefighters charities.

They said: "We wish all the firefighters success and safe return from their long struggles against the hellish Bush fires raging across the land your bravery and courage is admired"

The iconic Irish band previously made a similar generous gesture after they promised to donate the proceeds from the Irish number one to the Peter McVerry Trust to aid homelessness efforts in Ireland.

Two versions of the tune went to number one and number two in Ireland.

The most popular version of the ballad was recorded by the Dublin band in their 1972 album Let the People Sing.

However, it is their live 2004 performance of the song that has surpassed some of the biggest names in music, including Maroon 5 and Lewis Capaldi, to reach the top of the charts.

Reacting to the news of the Irish number one the band said "Fine Gael got their answer"

People from the organisations were due to be remembered at a ceremony at Dublin Castle on January 17, but this was deferred after a public outcry.

The RIC was boycotted by the new Irish State in 1921 after it acted as the enforcement arm of the British Crown - along with the infamous Black and Tans - during the War of Independence.

A number of politicians, from councillors to mayors and even TDs, had said they would not be attending the event, despite Taoiseach Leo Varadkar saying "all traditions" should be respected.

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