The controversial band played in front of a sell-out crowd waiting for Fontaines D.C.
Kneecap perform at Wythenshawe Park(Image: MEN)
Irish hip hop trio Kneecap drew boos from the 26,000-crowd as they acknowledged what ‘some people’ had said before their Wythenshawe Park show.
The controversial band supported Fontaines D.C. at their sell-out gig in south Manchester on Friday (August 15).
But there had been calls for the rappers, from West Belfast, to be pulled from the line-up – while a group protesting Kneecap’s appearance was seen outside the park as fans gathered for the gig.
The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region had formally made the request to Manchester council, but the local authority said it had ‘assurances’ the band would ‘stay within the law’.
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As the band were about to take to the stage just after 7pm, messages flashed on the screen including ‘Free Palestine’ – words the band soon repeated, before telling the crowd: “More on that later.”
Móglaí Bap, real name Naoise Ó Cairealláin, then drew a chorus of boos from the audience as he said: “Some people didn’t want us here.”
A message saying ‘free Palestine’ on the big screen(Image: MEN)
Those boos turned to cheers and applause as he added: “And look at us now, playing in front of 26,000 people.
“But honestly, respect to the Fontaines and everybody and all of you who stand by Kneecap when all of this s*** is going on.
“But particularly we would like to thank the Fontaines for having us back, we did Finsbury Park not too long ago with the lads and about a year and a half ago did a tune with Grian.”
Kneecap then welcomed out Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten for their song ‘Better Way To Live’.
Mo Chara, real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, went on to reference his upcoming court date, having been charged with a terror offence by the Metropolitan Police in May.
He is accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a London gig last year. Mo Chara denies the charge.
Mo Chara outside court in June(Image: Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)
He was released on unconditional bail following an appearance at Westminster Magistrates on June 18.
The rapper said: “It wasn’t me your honour, I’m in court on August 20 in Westminster Magistrates Court for a terrorism charge.”
The rest of the trio then led the crowd in a chant of ‘Free Free Mo Chara’, prompting Mo to chip in: “That’s every one of you on a watch list now, well done.”
The Irish band went on to repeat the allegation of Israel committing genocide against the Palestinian people, while discussing Britain’s history in their homeland.
“I’d like to take the time to say that we’re from West Belfast and Derry, Ireland,” Mo added.
“The Irish people know colonialism all too well, and we can see and we can call it out. And what is happening in Palestine is a genocide, Netanyahu is a war criminal
“I see a lot of stuff and I hear a lot of stuff that we’re using this for our gain, talking about Palestine, this is something that we have been talking about long before October, this is something that is very dear to our hearts because of where we’re from.
“And believe me, I wish I didn’t have to get on stage every night and talk about this but until something changes, Kneecap will use this platform every single gig to talk about it. It’s a genocide, he’s a war criminal.”
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The crowd then chanted ‘Free Palestine’ once again.
More than 61,000 people have been killed in the Gaza conflict since October 7, 2023, according to the region’s health ministry, following Hamas’ offensive which killed around 1,200 people in Israel and saw 251 hostages taken.
Prior to Kneecap’s performance, the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region said it had ‘deep reservations’ over the gig taking place.
“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,” the group said in a statement.
Kneecap have been pulled from lineups, including TRNSMT festival in Glasgow and at the Eden Project in Cornwall, over recent months – but Glastonbury organisers kept the band on the bill despite political pressure to remove them.
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.