An Irish band has been “cut off” at the Victorious Festival after reportedly sharing a pro-Palestine message and waving a Palestine flag. The Mary Wallopers, a folk music group based in Dundalk, County Louth, is made up of brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy, and Sean McKenna. Ticket-holders at the music festival have been posting online comments that the band has been pulled from the stage during their slot, after it was believed that they said “Free Palestine.” On their Instagram Stories, the band has posted a video of them on stage at the festival with a message, claiming that they’ve been doing the show for six years and that it’s the first time they’ve been cut off.
On X, fans who had attended the festival have posted their reaction. One person tweeted: “Shame on the victorious festival for kicking of the Mary wallopers off stage for saying free Palestine.”
A second also commented online: ” #Victorious festival Portsmouth just censored #MaryWallopers for flying a Palestine flag. Turned off mics, had to walk off stage. Shame, shame shame Portsmouth, shame #Victoriousfestival.”
Victorious Festival is an annual three-day music event held in Portsmouth. This year’s line-up includes Kaiser Chiefs, Madness, Jamie Webster, Kings of Leon, Vampire Weekend, and Nelly Furtado.
The news comes just months after Bob Vylan’s controversial Glastonbury Festival performance.
The BBC expressed regret for not pulling the live stream during the punk duo’s Worthy Farm set on Saturday (28.06.25) after vocalist Bobby Vylan led chants of “death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)”.
