THE MARY WALLOPERS have performed for protesters on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown as the stand-off over a planned Orange Order march continued into its fifth day.

The Dundalk folk group played for crowds gathered on the road this afternoon, a day after members of trad band Beoga joined musicians performing for residents.

Footage from the scene showed large crowds gathered as The Mary Wallopers performed.

Addressing protesters from the stage, Charles Hendy said: “Go raibh míle maith agat, hopefully it’ll be sorted out soon and fair play to every one of you.

“Keep her lit, don’t take shit.”

Damian Quinn joins The Mary Wallopers for “This Land is Your Land”. pic.twitter.com/Btu6zNAZfj

— Diarmuid Pepper (@Diarmuid_9) October 1, 2026

The band’s appearance came as veteran singer-songwriter Christy Moore also voiced his support for the protesters.

In a video shared online by former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, Moore sang “there’s no going back down Garvaghy” to the tune of his song Back Home in Derry.

Adams himself attended the protest today, saying he was there “showing solidarity with the people of Garvaghy”.

“The spirit and that support spreads far beyond this very, very small part of our country,” he said.

“No going back, and no Orange march down Garvaghy Road.”

Musicians show support

Members of Beoga had performed in a tent set up in the area last night.

In a post on Instagram, the band said they were “in awe of the wonderful community on the Garvaghy Road”.

Members of trad band Beoga joined musicians on the Garvaghy Road as residents continued their protest against the Drumcree parade.

The band recently withdrew as Ed Sheeran's backing band on his US Loop tour after rapper Macklemore was removed over pro-Palestinian comments. pic.twitter.com/BWFPBgxI0X

— The Irish News (@irish_news) September 30, 2026

They described residents as “a shining example of solidarity, people power, resistance and standing firm for peace and dignity in our communities” and encouraged others to support them.

The musical performances have come as the stand-off over the proposed Drumcree parade continues.

The Parades Commission granted permission for 35 members of the Orange Order to march along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road, a route the Order has not completed since 1997.

Residents and supporters have blocked the road since Sunday, preventing the parade from going ahead.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant has been holding talks with representatives of both the Orange Order and the Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition in an effort to resolve the dispute.

Breandán Mac Cionnaith of the residents’ coalition said yesterday that Bryant had presented a document which residents would accept if it was also accepted by the Orange Order.

However, the Portadown Orange Order said today that there was no agreement on a proposal to resolve the stand-off.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher also warned today that attempting to force the march through protesters could have “catastrophic” consequences for Northern Ireland.

He said the policing operation surrounding the dispute has so far cost around £3 million (€3.51 million), but noted that despite significant tensions there has been no violence and nobody has been injured.

A legal challenge by Garvaghy Road residents to the decision allowing the parade has meanwhile been temporarily postponed as talks continue.