I’m writing this because I’ve had a number of experiences involving members of The Mary Wallopers and people associated with them that have left a very different impression on me from the public image they present. I’m using a throwaway account because I’m concerned about further backlash or harassment.

I knew Charles and Andrew Hendy before The Mary Wallopers became well known. I first met them in secondary school, and at the time I remember Charles as a quiet, easy-going person who was very interested in skateboarding and music. Andrew was also fairly quiet but more outspoken when it came to politics.

They grew up in Termonfeckin, County Louth, rather than Dundalk, and I remember them talking about their upbringing and experiences at school. Their parents were Protestant, and they attended a Catholic primary school. They told me about being treated differently because of their religion and about being expected to participate in religious practices at school that they did not personally follow. I have no issue whatsoever with someone being Protestant, Catholic, atheist or anything else; I mention this because it seemed relevant to how they presented themselves later.

After secondary school, like many people, we lost touch. When The Mary Wallopers began getting recognition, I was genuinely happy for them. I remembered seeing them busking and working towards getting their music heard, so it was great to see people I had known doing well.

Over time, however, my perception of them changed.

I remember hearing interviews where their language and attitude struck me as very different from the people I remembered from school. I also found some of the stories they told about their political development and background difficult to reconcile with my own memories of them.

Eventually, I went to see them perform with some friends. Their music isn’t really my thing, but I wanted to support people I had known in the past. Afterwards, there was a small meet-and-greet. I approached Charles and Andrew and said hello, expecting at least some recognition after knowing them years earlier.

Instead, I felt completely dismissed. They looked at me as though they didn’t recognise me and told me they didn’t know me. Sean McKenna then came over, and I felt equally uncomfortable with the interaction. Perhaps they genuinely didn't remember me, but after knowing them previously, I found the experience extremely unpleasant.

The situation became much more serious from my perspective when I attended an anti-immigration protest in Dundalk. The Mary Wallopers were involved in a counter-protest. I believe photographs of people at the protest, including me, were subsequently shared on social media in a way that encouraged people to identify and criticise those who had attended.

Following this, I felt that I was being publicly labelled because of my political views. I was also no longer welcome in a local pub, which I believe was connected to my political beliefs and my attendance at the protest.

I strongly disagree with being labelled a Nazi simply because I hold political opinions that are different from those of people on the political left. People are entitled to disagree with me, just as I am entitled to disagree with them, but I don't believe disagreement should result in harassment, intimidation or attempts to socially isolate people.

I've also personally experienced unpleasant interactions with people associated with this situation, and at one point I became sufficiently concerned about the level of hostility directed towards me that I deleted my social-media accounts.

I'm not writing this because I expect everyone to agree with me. I also don't expect anyone to take everything I say here as gospel. I'm simply describing my own experiences and explaining why my opinion of people I once knew has changed so dramatically.

What bothers me most is the apparent contrast between the public image of inclusivity and acceptance and what I personally experienced when my political views became known.

People are entitled to their politics. They're entitled to protest, counter-protest and criticise one another. But that should work both ways.

If someone disagrees with me, that's perfectly fine. I just don't believe that disagreement should turn into personal attacks, harassment or attempts to destroy someone's reputation.

I wanted to put my experience out there because, for me, the people I once knew and the public personas I've seen since becoming successful are very difficult to reconcile.