Kneecap rapper Mo Chara says he's a 'free man' as band draw huge Glastonbury crowd
The trio were defiant on stage after calls from some politicians for them to be cut from the line-up.
They were greeted by cheers of support, and dozens of Palestinian flags waving in the crowd, as well as Irish flags and a few "Free Mo Chara" T-shirts.
On stage, the band told fans their legal case had been stressful, but emphasised it was nothing compared with what Palestinians are going through.
Kneecap played the West Holts stage, which has a capacity of about 30,000, and the area was closed by security about 45 minutes before their set.
They started with a montage of news readers covering O hAnnaidh's charge. "Has anybody been watching the news?" bandmate Naoise O Caireallain joked.
They also thanked Glastonbury organisers Michael Eavis and daughter Emily for not bowing to pressure to remove them from the bill.
Earlier on Saturday, the BBC confirmed they would not be live-streaming the set but said the performance is likely to be made available on-demand later.
It is understood the performance will need to be reviewed beforehand.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh, also known as Liam O'Hanna - or by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence in May and appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier this month.
Outside the court, he and bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh were cheered by hundreds of supporters.
O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of the proscribed group Hezbollah at a gig in London last November, after video footage circulated online.
He was released on bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
One of the band's lawyers said they would always "defend not only their rights, but the rights of artists and people all around the world".
On social media, O hAnnaidh and the band denied support for Hezbollah after the charge was announced, but the trio are unwavering in their support for Palestinians and speaking out against the war in Gaza.
But as the band were removed from other festivals, there were calls from some for them to be taken off the bill at Glastonbury, too - with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying he thought they should be axed.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also said the BBC "should not be showing" the trio's set in a post on social media last week.
Kneecap have the support of dozens of musicians including Massive Attack, Pulp, Primal Scream and Paul Weller, who signed an open letter in May saying there had been a "concerted attempt to censor and ultimately de-platform" the group.
Kneecap released their first single in 2017 and built a loyal fanbase in the following years.
They rose to wider prominence in 2024 following the release of their debut album and award-winning eponymous film - a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and their fight to save the Irish language.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
28 minutes ago
- The Sun
Strictly Come Dancing's George Clarke ‘gives away' who his pro dance partner is weeks before launch
STRICTLY star George Clarke may have accidentally let slip who he's partnered with for this year's series. Typically, it's kept under lock and key who the celebs are partnered with ahead of the launch show – which will air on BBC One in a matter of weeks. 5 5 5 However, in a chat on his podcast The Useless Hotline with Max Balegde, the excited George may have spilled the beans. Explaining the audition process, George revealed that he was partnered with a pro – and rehearsed with her for an hour. "I've not met anyone apart from, I believe her name's Lauren [Oakley], who was the pro that I met," he said. "Because when we had a interview for it, so it's like an hour long interview, and then like an hour long dance session." Lauren has been on the show since 2022, and so far has competed with two stars – Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who placed 8th, and JB Gill last year, taking over from fellow pro Amy Dowden mid-season after she was forced to withdraw due to injury. JB and Lauren made it through to the finals together, but ultimately lost out to Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell. Speaking about the process, George continued that he and Lauren had to perform in front of "two lovely women from the production team that were just sat at what basically looked like a judge's desk". During the audition, George revealed he and Lauren had to learn a jive and a "little Latin number he couldn't remember the name of". However, he later added that he wasn't sure if that practice "had any weight on who he would be partnered with on the main show", revealing the official pairing reveal would be taking place in the upcoming days. George is not the first star to reveal who he was coupled up with during his audition, with Drag Race UK star La Voix admitting that they had performed with Kai Widdrington. They told Daily Star: "I'm casting my net wide. Someone who can lift me up and show me off, that's what I want. Strictly Come Dancing 2025 lineup IN FULL - including Game of Thrones star & famous YouTuber "I like Kai. Secret inside knowledge: when I did my little dance trial for the show, I had Kai for my audition, so maybe that would be nice. He's a great guy, an amazing teacher." The official partnerships will be revealed during the official launch show, which is pre-recorded and believed to be airing on September 20th. The first live show will then take place a week later, with the no exits during the first two weeks of the competition.
The Guardian
28 minutes ago
- The Guardian
House Party review – home truths about gentrification in east London
In her solo show about the aftermath of gentrification and austerity, Chakira Alin bemoans the rise of costly small plates in restaurants. It's a neat parallel to the housing market, where properties are also getting smaller and more expensive. But Alin's chief metaphor is the 'lost art' of the house party – indicative of her generation's financial crisis and a wider crack in social cohesion. There's no space to throw a decent party or the would-be hosts can't risk trashing their precarious, overpriced rentals or family homes. The argument is put across with brio and evident authenticity on a homely stage decorated with balloons, heart-shaped cushions and a cocktail shaker. Greatly at ease with the audience, Alin plays Skip (smart name for a show about constant upheaval), born and raised in ever-gentrifying east London where she lives with her mum. Skip hearts Hackney, it even says so on her T-shirt, but how have we reached the point where dying in the place you're from may be an unreachable dream? Bitterness is shot through a predominantly buoyant show with some sparkling sequences: Skip fantasising about 'white-pillared Georgians' and other desirable addresses; hitting up RightMove as if it's PornHub; finding that the TV series Skins has sold her a lie, and likening house parties to oceans while nightclubs are swimming pools. Easy gags about gentrification are rife at the Edinburgh fringe but instead Alin gives us an inside perspective and a longer view of familiar issues, anticipating the hollowing-out when gentrifiers move on. The show also occasionally veers into straight standup: 'What do they call French windows in France?' But amid the bubbling humour, the threat of homelessness for Skip and her mum is a constant concern. Alin repeatedly strikes the pose of an analyst, whether explaining why Miley Cyrus's We Can't Stop should be on every playlist or the function of house parties for the Windrush generation. It's two years since Skip left drama school and she gives a lucid account of how her chosen profession is similarly weighted against her, also dominated by those benefiting from inherited wealth. A subplot about a friend who sleeps rough needs deepening, as do a couple of supporting characters. But Alin's plotting displays a skilful sleight of hand and she has charisma to burn in a show packed with home truths about dispossession. At Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, until 25 August All our Edinburgh festival reviews
Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Tommy Fury is supported by his family at the screening for his new documentary - but Molly-Mae Hague is a no show after he vowed to keep their relationship private
Tommy Fury was all smiles as he attended the screening of his new documentary, Tommy: The Good. The Bad. The Fury, in Manchester on Tuesday. The boxer, 26, was supported by his parents Chantal and John as well as brother Roman as they posed for sweet family snaps at the event at The Printworks. Notably, Tommy's girlfriend Molly-Mae Hague, 26, was missing from the event amid Tommy's vow to keep their relationship private following their recent reconciliation. Staying true to his word, Tommy happily posed for a number of fun solo snaps as he promoted his show at the screening. Dressed to impress, the sportsman donned a sharp grey suit which he teamed with a white shirt, a black tie and black shoes. As well as his family, a host of reality and sports stars turned up to show their support for Tommy, including Love Island's Kaz Crossley who put on a leggy display in a brown mini dress. Notably, Tommy's girlfriend Molly-Mae Hague, 26, was missing from the event amid Tommy's vow to keep their relationship private following their recent reconciliation While Emma Walsh looked glam in a white co-ord as she posed with the boxer. Despite putting on a loved-up display in recent Instagram posts, Molly-Mae chose not to attend Tommy's big event. Tommy's new BBC Three series documents his battle with alcohol, as he reveals how it caused him to neglect his responsibilities as a father and partner and ultimately causing his relationship to fall apart. He recently revealed the couple are now the 'happiest they've ever been' after rekindling their romance. The former Love Island stars, who share daughter Bambi, two, shocked fans when they announced their split last August, a year after getting engaged. The couple later reconciled and have enjoyed numerous sun-soaked getaways and appear more loved-up than ever, with Tommy sharing an insight into the months they spent apart in his docuseries. Speaking ahead of the series premiere Tommy reflected on the split, which he said was caused after hand surgery prevented him from getting back in the ring as things went from 'bad to worse' and he ended up getting 'black-out drunk' most nights. 'The injury caused a lot of problems in my life, both inside and outside the ring. But I've come so far and I've done a full turn. I've gone from having nothing in my life: to living in a house alone, going through the toughest time of my life,' Dressed to impress, the sportsman donned a sharp grey suit which he teamed with a white shirt, a black tie and black shoes As well as his family, a host of reality and sports stars turned up to show their support for Tommy, including Love Island's Kaz Crossley who put on a leggy display in a brown mini dress Tommy continued: 'To now having everything back and feeling myself again. I'm back in the gym and back training. I'm back in shape. My family's there and I've come full circle. I couldn't be any happier'. He went on to reveal that the couple have made a big change in their relationship and vowed to keep more of their time together private and away from cameras. 'So, in terms of my family life, everything is private now between me and Molly, and we're in the happiest place possible, And that's all that anyone needs to know!'. He continued: 'Everyone's entitled to a private life and so right now we're going to live our private life, because we haven't had that since we were 19 or 20 years old. It's all been lived out in front of a camera or on the front page of a newspaper. So now, going forward, we're finally going to take that private time'. In the debut episode, he can be seen opening up about his alcohol issues and how it affected his relationship with Molly, admitting that he doesn't blame her for leaving him as he would've done the same. While his dad and boxing trainer, John, reveals that he urged Molly-Mae to leave Tommy, feeling it needed to happen in order to force him to sober up. In quotes obtained by The Mirror, Tommy told John: 'I mean, I probably would've walked away from me too. 'It was a tough moment in my life, but everything happens for a reason. I'm not happy that I went through that, but I'm grateful for the lessons that I've learned, and I don't think I would've known half of what I know about myself if I never went through that.'
