Kneecap paid tribute to band member Móglaí Bap’s late father at a sold-out Belfast gig on Saturday night, hours after announcing his death.
The rap trio, whose eponymous feature film was recently shortlisted for two Oscars, performed at the city’s SSE Arena on Saturday night.
Towards the end of the performance, a photo of Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, father of Móglaí Bap, whose real name is Naoise Ó Cairealláin, was projected onto a screen alongside the dedication: “Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, 1957 – 2024, Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann.”
In an Instagram post earlier in the day, the band posted photos of Gearóid Ó Cairealláin and wrote: “Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, father of Móglaí 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 gig in the city’s history.
“Nothing would have made him prouder. Tonight is for him.”
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
Mr Ó Cairealláin was President of Conradh na 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.
Kneecap’s rousing Belfast performance saw them supported by fellow Irish acts Gurriers and Gemma Dunleavy.
The film Kneecap has been shortlisted for an Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category and for Best Original Song for Sick in the Head.
In November, the group won their discrimination court battle against UK leader of the opposition and former business secretary Kemi Badenoch, after the UK government conceded it was “unlawful” to refuse them a £14,250 Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) funding award.
Earlier this month, the film Kneecap scooped seven gongs at the British Independent Film Awards.
Source: Press Association