‘You couldn’t pay for the PR the DUP gives Kneecap,’ band member Naoise O Caireallain told the crowd at Belfast Vital.
By Grinne N. Aodha Friday 29 August 2025 21:32 BST
Kneecap on stage at Belfast Vital on Friday (Liam McBurney/PA)
Rap group Kneecap took aim at the DUP and the Alliance Party as they were given a rapturous welcome back to Belfast by a crowd waving pro-Palestine flags.
The trio’s set on Friday at the Vital festival in Belfast also criticised Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and called for the US military to be kept out of Ireland.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, told the crowd at Boucher Playing Fields: “It’s good to be home”.
“I would like to thank the DUP and the Alliance Party, and their supporters, for trying to cancel this gig,” Naoise O Caireallain, aka Moglai Bap, told the crowd.
“You couldn’t pay for the PR the DUP gives Kneecap.”
“We owe the DUP our career, so this is our public thanks for the DUP,” O hAnnaidh said.
O Caireallain added: “I think the Alliance Party need to look at themselves, if they are on the same side as the DUP there must be something wrong with the Alliance Party.”
It comes after O hAnnaidh appeared in court charged with a terrorism offence relating to allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, during a gig in November 2024.
The group said their actions, including the accusation of holding the Hezbollah flag, had been taken out of context and that the case should be thrown out because of a technical error.
O hAnnaidh told the crowd in Belfast on Friday: “I think it’s important as Irish people we stay on the right side of history.
“As we sit here enjoying ourselves, our brothers and sisters in Palestine are enduring a genocide.
“I know I don’t have to lecture you people out there, I see an awful lot of support and I f****** massively appreciate it.”
“The thing is, with whatever platform we have, we feel it’s important to use a few minutes of it at the very least at every single gig to at least draw attention to the ongoing genocide.
“We don’t give a f*** about the repercussions any more. This is bigger than Kneecap.
“Netanyahu is a war criminal. Free Palestine.”
The crowd, wearing Palestine jerseys and keffiyehs, then began chanting “Free Free Palestine”.
Earlier this week, the rappers cancelled a string of US tour dates because of their “proximity” to O hAnnaidh’s next appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 26.
O hAnnaidh said: “Not the first Irish man up in a f****** British court for terrorism, allegedly.”
O Caireallain told the crowd: “It’s a pleasure to be back in Belfast. They won’t have us in Hungary, they won’t have us in the US, but they’ll always have us in Belfast.”
They also called on people to “boycott McDonalds”.
The rap group – which is made up of O hAnnaidh, O Caireallain, and JJ O Dochartaigh, aka DJ Provai – are known for their provocative lyrics and championing of the Irish language and a pro-Palestine stance.
Kneecap claim the controversies surrounding the group are part of a smear campaign against them because of their vocal support for Palestine and criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, which they say is a genocide.
They performed to a sea of Palestinian flags during their set at Glastonbury Festival in June, which was initially investigated by police.
Police later said they would be taking “no further action” against the band.
The band, who formed in Belfast and released their first single in 2017, began their set on Friday night with a message on screen that said “Get the US military out of Ireland” and “Free Palestine” before launching into their song Making Headlines.
by renault_vegane
24 comments
To the genocide supporting bots that are going to brigade this post
#FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸
And after this very commercial kids pop concert in Belfast, Palestine was free (whatever that means who knows) and the Middle East lived happily ever after. The End.
Alot of people came up from dublin to northern ireland went to bars (funding our economy) paid for a concert who the people sing about how shit northern ireland is and how the brits need to get out.
Thank god , I was worried I would miss the hourly Kneecrap update
As someone from a protestant background, I used to vote for Naomi Long (Alliance). I’m embarrassed about what they’ve become. We needed a solid centre party and they seemed to be that for a time
Im embarassed at the comments already lol when the whole conflict is over yous will all be looking for another cause unrelated to northern ireland to simp over for a moral high ground while believing lies from either side constantly.
Pack of gimps.
Their a bit full of themselves but I have massive respect for how they aren’t afraid to speak their minds. Even if I don’t agree with select bits of it lol.
Context, DUP tried to stop the event, alliance said they supported Kneecaps right to free speech but urged them to use “responsible language”. Kneecap has claimed this was an attempt to stop them performing.
Same shite different day, alliance goes for the luke warm take and then get blasted for not being outright in their support.
Wee fresh account to shit post tonight. No friends to drink with? ☹️
Gammon blood-pressure sky-rocketing tonight when all they wanted was a quiet night in making the wife miserable by still being alive.
I thought the first article to be posted would be talking about how the sound crew turned the vocals down so 30,000 people couldn’t hear what the fuck they were singing about.
Seriously, someone either sabotaged the gig or that was the single worst performance I’ve ever seen in my life.
Goodness but they’re tedious, if not outright anachronistic.
You can tell by the tone of that article that whoever wrote it really doesn’t agree with Kneecap.
Making headlines is an interlude???
*I got excited for new music for naffin 😔*
What did alliance do?
They are real hard hitters when it comes to capitalism in concerts that’s for sure. Nothing new really. They all “ hate the man “ but buy these tickets” carry on. Nothing changes just the sound.
“Our brothers and sisters”…. They have no idea who the fuck Kneecap are. It’s literally disgusting that they keep using that conflict for free PR. At this point they should be donating 50% or more of their earnings, but I doubt that’s going to happen….
free the boys from Westminster
Tbf they are shite lol
Why did they call out alliance? I wasn’t aware of them trying to “cancel” the concert
Very anti establishment. Put those sun glasses on. It’s like it’s dark and we are wearing suns glasses. I have never saw this rebellious nature before. Such rebellious behaviour.
wankers
The sound in this venue is shite, saw Bruce Springsteen at it last year, could hear the strangers conversations next to me better than the music. Then snuck into the Golden Circle and the sound was much better. Same today, sound not great.
Been to concerts earlier this summer in Malahide, and you could enjoy the music much the same at the back of the pitch or at the front.
Malahide toilets were much better too, spotless and actually had toilet paper. Boucher’s are disgusting.
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