Kneecap has paid tribute to Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, Móglái Bap’s father following his death last night.
The Irish language rap trio are set to perform their biggest show ever in Belfast’s SSE Arena tonight with over 9,000 tickets sold.
Last week, the band’s music biopic was added to the Oscars shortlist for Best International Feature Film.
Kneecap’s track ‘Sick in the Head’ was also shortlisted in the Best Original Song category.
Mr Ó Cairealláin was President of Conradh the Gaeilge from 1995 to 1998 and was a founding member of Raidió Fáilte and Meánscoil Feirste, the Irish language secondary school in west Belfast’s Gaeltacht Quarter.
“He was an Irish language revolutionary, community activist, loving father, husband and an inspiration to many,” said Kneecap in a statement.
“We are heartbroken.”
Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, father of Móglái Bap passed away last night.
He was an Irish language revolutionary, community activist, loving father, husband and an inspiration to many.
We are heartbroken. 💔
Tonight’s concert at the SSE arena will be the largest Irish language… pic.twitter.com/AAm5rkoI6i
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) December 21, 2024
The musicians vowed that their sold out concert tonight will be the “largest Irish language gig in the city’s history” in Mr Ó Cairealláin’s honour.
“Nothing would have made him prouder,” they added.
“Tonight is for him.
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”
Conradh na Gaeilge also paid tribute to its former president saying he was “a serial founder of breakthrough Irish language projects”.
The organisation stressed that he will be remembered as one of the great leaders and pioneers in the Irish language movement” in Belfast.
President of Conradh na Gaeilge Paula Melvin said: “There can be no denying the incredible influence and impact Gearóid had on the Irish language movement, not only in Belfast, but throughout the country.
“He leaves behind him an undeniable legacy that will be an immense source of inspiration for us all throughout the future.
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a Ghearóid agus suaimhneas síoraí ort.”
Conradh na Gaeilge advocacy manager’s, Conchúr Ó Muadaigh added that the community had lost a “giant, a leader, a great pioneer and activist”.
“Gearóid encapsulated the ‘Ná hAbair é, Déan é” drive and passion that led to the birth and development of so many transformational projects and campaigns in Belfast,” he said.
“He was, in many ways, the great architect of the modern revival, and the Irish language community as we know it today would simply not be here were it not for Gearóid and his colleagues.”