Rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, repeated claims Israel was guilty of ‘genocide’Kneecap perform at Wythenshawe Park(Image: MEN)

Irish rap trio Kneecap led 25,000 fans in chants of ‘free free Palestine’ during a huge gig in Wythenshawe Park tonight while band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, repeated claims Israel was guilty of ‘genocide’.

Taking to the stage, Chara reminded the crowd the band was from West Belfast which ‘fell under British occupation’. “Irish people know colonialism all too well,” he said.

Standing in front of a giant digital flag of Palestine on a screen behind him, the rapper continued: “We can call it out and what’s happening in Palestine is a genocide.”

He called Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu a ‘war criminal’. He continued: “I heard a lot of stuff that we are using this for our gain talking about Palestine. This is something we have been talking about long before October. This is something that’s dear to our hearts because of where we are from. And believe me I wish I didn’t have to get on stage every night to talk about this but until something changes Kneecap will use this platform.”

He also thanked the night’s headliner, Fontaines DC, for standing by them and allowing them to be their warm-up act at Wythenshawe Park.

Kneecap perform at Wythenshawe Park(Image: MEN)

A Jewish group had contacted the council to formally request the cancellation of the Belfast band’s set but the gig continued following ‘assurances’.

The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region said in a statement earlier this week it had ‘deep reservations’ over the performance, adding: “By hosting a band who has repeatedly sought to engage in provocative and dangerous behaviour, the council can be under no illusion about what it is enabling.”

Manchester City Council is said to have been given the body ‘assurances’ that ‘the organisers and artists have acknowledged their responsibilities to stay within the law’, and the trio’s slot was confirmed.

The group, known for their provocative lyrics and championing of the Irish language, have had several shows cancelled in recent months, including TRNSMT festival in Glasgow and at the Eden Project in Cornwall.

They have said there is a smear campaign against them because of their support for Palestine and criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Kneecap – comprised of Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh – were formed in Belfast and released their first single in 2017. They hit headlines in April when footage emerged that appeared to show a band member saying ‘Kill your local MP’ at one gig and ‘Up Hamas, up Hezbollah’ at another.

In June, calls were made to pull their Glastonbury slot, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying the planned performance at Worthy Farm was not “appropriate”, after band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence for displaying a Hezbollah-supporting flag during a gig in 2024.

Mo Chara has denied the offence, labelling the terror offence charge a “political” move designed to “silence” them.

Glastonbury organisers refused to pull the trio’s slot on the West Holts stage at the festival. However, while the BBC decided not to live stream their performance, they later uploaded a largely unedited version of their performance on BBC iPlayer.