AN IRISH FOLK PUNK INVASION

Fans of Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys will feel right at home—the Paddyhats carry Irish folk-punk into their own wild territory.

There’s something about Irish punk rock—the stomp of boots, the crash of fiddles, the roar of a chorus—that always pulls me in. Bands like Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys lit that fire years ago. So when I stumbled across The O’Reillys and the Paddyhats, a German crew carrying that same spirit with their own twist, I couldn’t look away. I had to know more.

So gather ‘round and lean in close, because I’ve got a tale worth a toast. It’s about a German band with an Irish soul—the kind that can make a room stomp, sing, and spill a drink or two. They go by The O’Reillys and the Paddyhats, and what they play isn’t just Irish folk punk—it’s equal parts tradition, rebellion, and pure joy.

The O’Reillys and the Paddyhats are a seven-piece Irish folk-punk force out of Gevelsberg, Germany, blending the raw stomp of pub anthems with the speed and snarl of modern punk. Since 2011, they’ve been turning beer-soaked nights into communal celebrations, driven by tin whistles, fiddles, roaring guitars, and choruses built for shouting at the top of your lungs. They’ve evolved from local gigs to international stages, launching their own festival, climbing the German charts, and releasing a steady run of albums that push their sound from traditional Celtic roots into gritty rock territory. Whether they’re belting out sea shanties, anthems of rebellion, or a tongue-in-cheek pub banger, their live shows carry an almost unhinged joy—part concert, part cultural hurricane.

SNQLX: Take us back—how did The O’Reillys and the Paddyhats first come together, and what sparked the idea to play Irish folk-punk in the first place?

Dwight O’Reilly: We started out as a duo and played traditional Irish folk music in pubs and at small festivals for several years. We wanted to play on the big stages, so we found some friends and formed the “big” band Paddyhats. Before we started as a duo, we were in Ireland and fell in love with the Irish mentality and Irish music.

SNQLX: Coming from Germany, what drew you into Irish music culture, and how has your own background shaped the way you play it?

Paddy Maguire: What’s special about our band is that we all have such different approaches to Irish music.

I personally grew up with The Dubliners; my father has always been a big fan of Ireland and took me to visit the beautiful island. My first band was a very average school punk band, so Flogging Molly, The Pogues, and Fiddler’s Green were the perfect mix for me.

SNQLX: In those early days, what did your shows look and feel like compared to the chaos and energy we see now?

Ian McFlannigan: The shows aren’t that different. The way we mix things up on stage, the fun vibe, the fact that it’s all spontaneous – that’s what makes us stand out. We often just go with the flow and let our energy and mood on stage guide us, which is why each show is unique. We absolutely love being on stage and captivating the audience. I think the difference over the years has been a different level of self-confidence and security. It’s always growing.

SNQLX: Folk-punk thrives on blending tradition with rebellion—how do you balance the old-world instruments and stories with the raw punch of punk?

Mia Callaghan: For us, it’s never really about choosing between the two—it’s about making them talk to each other. The fiddle, accordion, or tin whistle bring that timeless folk feeling, while the guitars, drums, and distortion add the urgency and edge of punk. When we write, we don’t think in categories like “traditional” or “modern.” We chase the energy of a story or a melody, and then let both worlds collide. That clash is where folk-punk truly lives.

SNQLX: When you’re writing, do songs tend to start with a lyric, a melody, or a pint-inspired jam session?

Paddy: Of course, we love pints and the tradition of drinking songs, but our songwriting is as diverse as the weather in Ireland.

For many songs, we started with the lyrics, but sometimes it’s a catch phrase, a theme, a biographical experience, or simply a feeling. We often use traditional tunes as song parts as a reminiscence.

SNQLX: Your live shows have a reputation for being pure, unfiltered celebration—what’s one unforgettable moment from the road that still makes you laugh or shake your head?

Connor O‘Sullivan: We have been on the road for many years and have played a lot of shows. So, we experienced a lot of funny things like the organizers saying ‘What do you mean, you want to drink beer on stage?’ or ‘Can do you do a break and split your set into two of them?’. So, the people’s expectation might differ from ours, but that’s okay. The most important thing is that we and the audience are enjoying the show and having a good time. Don’t take yourselves too serious.

SNLQX: Running your own festival isn’t something every band takes on—what made you decide to create that space for fans, and what’s the vibe like?

Tom O‘Shaughnessy: From the outset, it was clear to us that we wanted to create a festival that was so cosy and welcoming that we would feel just as comfortable there as visitors as we would as a band. Not an anonymous event, but a place with a family atmosphere where people can strike up conversations, perhaps even form friendships, and experience music up close.

It is important to us that everything is lovingly designed – from the stage to the small decorative details to fair prices. We wanted an atmosphere that is open, friendly and relaxed.

In short: we wanted a festival that is not only musically impressive, but also human. A place where everyone can celebrate, laugh and feel part of something special together.

SNQLX: Your videos always carry strong visuals and personality—how much of that is planned versus just letting the Paddyhats’ humor and energy loose?

Mia: A bit of both, honestly. We go in with a vision—there’s always a storyline or aesthetic we want to hit—but once the cameras roll, new ideas often come up. Sometimes it’s small changes, sometimes spontaneous input from the actors or from us as a band. Those moments add an extra spark without losing the concept we started with. It keeps the videos authentic while still staying true to the plan.

SNQLX: Coming Home feels like both a celebration and a reflection—what stories or emotions were you most trying to capture with it?

Dwight: On our album “Coming Home,” we explored different emotions and stories. We wrote some songs about friendship and togetherness, such as “Friendship Whiskey and Beer” and “Coming Home,” as well as more serious topics like “It’s All Up to You,” which is about personal decisions and hopes for the future. The album title Coming Home stands for returning, arriving in the broadest sense. Coming back home to loved ones after a tour, back to yourself and your roots, or coming home to the community with others.

SNQLX: After more than a decade together, what keeps this band fresh and exciting for you—and what’s still on your dream list to do next?

Jones Murphy: The beauty of being in a band and working in the music industry is, as much as you have to develop routines for yourself and as a whole, there is always something new. No two thing are the same and as long as you keep a passion for making music in its core there is always something exciting to discover and to cherish.

One thing on my personal bucket list is playing one of those huge festivals where you look at one of those giant ferris wheels during the set. For some reason that’s something special to me.

SNQLX: If The O’Reillys and the Paddyhats were a pub drink, what would be in it—and would it be legal?

Ian: So, if we were a drink, that’s not such a simple question! Together, we’re an explosive mix since we’re all different. I’d say we’d be a B52: creamy, sweet, fruity, strong and explosive.

SNQLX: Who in the band is most likely to start a spontaneous jig mid-set, and who’s most likely to fall off the stage doing it?

Paddy: It would probably be Mia with her fiddle; she knows a lot of tunes. Who would probably fall off the stage? Ian.

SNQLX: If you could replace one instrument in your live set with something completely ridiculous, what would it be and why?

Connor: Everything that you would not expect in a rock band should be substituted by 80th Synth Keyboard sounds.

SNQLX: Say a film crew followed you on tour for a documentary—what’s the most unglamorous moment they’d inevitably catch on camera?

Jones: One of the very real things every band is familiar with but for some reason never gets shown on screen is sitting in the tour bus in the morning just waiting for it to finally get into parking position so you can hit the can.

SNQLX: You can only cover one song for the rest of your career—do you pick a heartfelt folk classic, a punk anthem, or something completely unexpected just to mess with people?

The best answer to that: Our discography as a looped medley. Done. — Paddy Maguire

A short message from The O’Reillys and the Paddyhats

Talking with The O’Reillys and the Paddyhats, it’s clear their story is more than just fiddles and distortion—it’s about connection. What started as two friends inspired by Ireland has grown into a band that thrives on chaos, humor, and heart. They don’t overthink whether a song is folk or punk; they chase the spark until it becomes something bigger, something shared. From building their own festival to pouring their lives into albums like Coming Home, they’ve created a space where tradition and rebellion dance together, where the audience isn’t just watching but part of the celebration. In the end, that might be the real secret of the Paddyhats: no matter how big the stage or how far from home, they make every night feel like a family gathering—loud, unpredictable, and unforgettable.