Huge crowds come out for The Whistlin’ Donkeys Down Under

CAMEL were first introduced into Australia in the 1840s to help curious colonialists explore its sandy expanses.

In 2024, a herd of donkeys came to the same land to bring the sounds of home to thousands of tune-hungry travellers.

A few weeks ago, one of Ireland’s most sought-after folk groups embarked on a two-week tour of the land ‘Down Under’.

This was the second time The Whistlin’ Donkeys took the songs and airs of Ireland south of the Equator, and, I have it on their sun-burned and jet-lagged authority, that this trip was an even bigger success than the first.

“The last time we went out, we tried to cram all our shows into the one weekend, which meant it felt a bit like we were racing against the clock,” said Fergal McAloon, Donkeys’ frontman and ballad singer extraordinaire.

“This time we decided to perform in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane over two weekends, sneaking a midweek gig in down in Auckland, New Zealand, as well.”

Photos from the gigs show screaming fans hanging over the balconies of rather grand looking theatres.

“The venues were great and the receptions we received in each were fantastic.

“In Sydney there were about 2,500 people there to see us and it was one of my favourite venues we have ever played.”

However, making sure to give each audience their due, the unusually diplomatic Dromore man qualified, “Here, to be honest, every gig was class in its own way. But Sydney was definitely special.”

I then asked the big man to tell me what the audiences were like, anticipating he would say that they were almost 100 per-cent Irish.

To my surrpise, he did not.

“I was actually shocked by the amount of Aussies, Scottish and English that came to see us.

“Obviously, the vast majority were Irish, but it was by no means a fully green and gold audience.

“The Scottish probably saw us in the Barrowlands or have family that did.

“The Aussies probably heard us through some lads they work with.

“And the Irish just love something from home when they are away.”

We never quite established a theory to explain the presence of the small English contingent.

During the tour, the lads enjoyed the support of some great acts, many of who were fellow Irish musicians who emigrated down under many years ago.

“Sean Kelly supported us in Auckland and Johnny Reid was there to get the crowd going in Perth.

“In saying that, there was some great homegrown talent out there too. One fella was as Australian as Steve Irwin, but if you heard him playing the fiddle you would have thought he was from up the road. It was like he’d been sitting in sessions all his life,” reflected Fergal.

However, despite the warm reception and warmer weather, Fergal and the donkeys are glad to have their hooves back upon greener ground.

“We are not used to being away on tour for more than a week,” explained Fergal.

“Personally, I have two children and one on the way, so two weeks at the far side of the planet is a lot, you know.”

2023 was a bit of a landmark year for the band, their diary dotted with gigs in all sorts of exotic and prestigious venues.

This year, Fergal said, should be the same.

“Aye, we are all looking forward to another busy year ahead, one of the highlights of which no doubt will be Vicar Street on St Patrick’s Day.”

However, despite the the band’s rise, Fergal still has his feet planted firmly on the ground – more than you would expect from the front man of a band that are making such big waves.

A spark by trade, Fergal concluded by half-jokingly saying, “Here, thank God, things are going well and all the boys are happy, but I am not throwing out the tools just yet. You never know when you might end up dusting them off again.”