Kneecap fans charged €30 for balaclavas and ‘free Mo Chara' tshirts at Dublin gig
KNEECAP fans are not only lapping up their music but also their imaginative merchandising.
Woolen Irish tricolour balaclavas, as famously sported by band member DJ Provai, were on sale at last night's gig in Dublin's Fairview Park for €30.
Many fans took delight wearing them, with security signs on nearby entrances earlier anticipating the craze by signalling: 'Balaclavas may be worn but please show your face if asked by security staff'.
Kneecap
News in 90 Seconds - June 20th
Fans who did buy them at official merchandising stalls may feel they got a bit of a bargain as the same items are fetching over €110 online.
Kneecap t-shirts, primarily in black, were also generally priced at €30.
The most popular one being snapped up had 'Free Mo Chara' on its front, in obvious reference to band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh's current court case in London.
Tshirts on sale at the gig
This was the group's first show since Liam's appearance at a magistrates court in London on Wednesday on alleged incitement of terrorism charges (for displaying a Hezbollah flag at a gig in the British capital several months ago), with his case being put back until August while he's released on unconditional bail.
Other t-shirts read 'Kneecap: England get out of Ireland' and 'Take these yokes and we'll go for a dance'.
A Kneecap hoodie was on sale for €70 and shorts for €40.
There was also a separate stall selling pro-Palestinian items.
Much of the marketing ideas are originated by the band's enterprising Dubliner manager Daniel Lambert.
Daniel is also the C.E.O. of Bohemians FC, where he has had a phenomenal success of bringing sales of merchandising of replica jerseys from just over €100,000 a year to an estimated €2 million.
A sign on display at the gig
The jerseys, many of which are bought online from abroad, have already have themes such as Bob Marley (who played in Dalymount Park in 1980), 'Refugees Welcome' and 'Fontaines DC'. Environmentalist Greta Thunberg was spotted wearing a Bohs' Fontaines DC on her recent attempted boat trip to Gaza.
'I'm a free man', announced Liam as he took to the stage last night, to whoops of support from the sold-out crowd of 8500 who packed out a giant marquee.
Free Mo Chara tshirts were on sale
Liam also later wryly stressed that 'I'm not the first lad from west Belfast' that ended up in a British court.
The band also highlighted that while their fans got to enjoy an exhilarating show they should also contemplate about Palestinians being slaughtered in Gaza and the West Bank.
Balaclavas on sale online
The group too paid a touching tribute to their late lightning designer Conor Biddle, offering sympathy to his family and husband Sean.
Kneecap will play Glastonbury on Saturday of next weekend, where they're expected to have one of the biggest crowds of the famous festival given not just the curiosity, they're attracting for being perhaps the most high-profile anti-establishment act at the moment but also because their catchy and thought-provoking music is attracting a growing army of fans.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
32 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Seven reasons why Wexford's Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann was so successful
The 2025 edition of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which saw over 800,0000 people travel down to Wexford for the celebrations is the end result of a lot of ingredients mixed together to deliver the ultimate celebration of Irish traditional music.
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Sister of Wexford councillor knocked unconscious while fiancé stomped by gang in ‘unprovoked attack'
Lyndsey Forde, the sister of Cllr Tom Forde, had been enjoying a night out with her partner Darren at The Whistlin' Donkeys at The Breakwater Festival on Saturday night. The couple had made their way back across Wexford Bridge and were walking through the crammed streets of the town at The Bullring when their evening took a horrible turn. Lyndsey was struck from behind by an unknown assailant and fell to the ground, hitting her head and ending up unconscious. When she came to, she saw a group of males stomping on the head of her partner Darren, causing him serious injuries. The couple said that the attack was completely random and their assailants were unknown to them. Judging by their accents, they believe the group of males may have been from Dublin. Gardaí were quick on the scene and the couple were put in an ambulance and brought to Wexford General Hospital for treatment. Having suffered two fractured eye sockets and a broken jaw, Darren is left facing surgery for his injuries and has been unable to eat since the attack. While the rest of the town is celebrating a wonderful Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2025, which saw 800,000 people in attendance, Lyndsey and Darren's experience has 'left a bitter taste". "I feel it just needs to be said,' Lyndsey said in an emotional Facebook post. 'Everyone who knows me knows I love my town, my language and all things Irish. I love the Fleadh, but reading through all the posts congratulating security and everyone involved leaves me with a bitter taste in my mouth.' The Wexford woman went on to outline the attack. "This was a random and unprovoked attack that has left us feeling sick and angry at the state our town,' she continued. 'We can all say well done on the Fleadh but the reality is our town is falling apart behind the scenes. I doubt we will get justice for this but honestly people need to be aware of what's really going on. Wexford is not a safe town no matter how much we dress it up. "Anyone who knows Darren knows he is the friendliest kindest person and I'm so sick this happened to him.' Gardaí are investigating the incident and CCTV footage is reportedly being analysed. Lyndsey's post has been shared nearly 400 times on social media and an appeal has been made for anyone with information to contact Wexford Gardaí on 0539165200 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Two charged on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts and attempted murder attack on senior detective John Caldwell
The PSNI said that detectives from Serious Crime Branch had charged the two men POLICE PROBE Two charged on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts and attempted murder attack on senior detective John Caldwell TWO men have been charged to appear in court on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts and perverting the course of justice in connection with the attempted murder of DCI John Caldwell. The PSNI said on Tuesday that detectives from Serious Crime Branch had charged the two men following their arrests and subsequent detention under the Terrorism Act on Monday. Advertisement A 45-year-old man, arrested in the Stewartstown area and a man aged 25, arrested in west Belfast, have both been charged with the preparation of terrorist acts and perverting the course of justice. They are due to appear at Dungannon Magistrates' Court on Wednesday morning. As is usual procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service. DCI John Caldwell is a police officer in Omagh, Northern Ireland. Advertisement He was shot while coaching an underage Gaelic football team at around 8pm on February 22, 2023. One of the children at the coaching session was his son. He is a well known face on TV in Northern Ireland, previously speaking at press conferences and appeals. What happened to John Caldwell? Advertisement DCI Caldwell was blasted a "number of times" by masked gunmen in front of his son and the young people he was coaching as he loaded footballs into his car. The cop fell to the ground as he attempted to run, with the shooters continuing to fire at him. A "brave" member of the public has been praised after rushing towards DCI Caldwell to administer first aid. An attempted murder probe has been launched with political leaders in the UK and Ireland condemning the horror. Advertisement Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was appalled by the "disgraceful shooting of an off-duty police officer in Omagh". While Irish premier Leo Varadkar condemned the "grotesque act of attempted murder". Around 70 young people were at Youth Sport Omagh when the gun attack happened, local sources told Belfast Live. The attack is the most serious on a police officer since the murder of Ronan Kerr, 25, in 2011 in Omagh. Advertisement He was killed by a bomb that had been attached under his car just outside his home. Omagh was also the scene of a bombing carried out by dissident republicans on August 15, 1998, which killed 29 people. The car bombing was the worst single atrocity of the Troubles. It was perpetrated by a group calling themselves the Real Irish Republican Army, an IRA splinter group who opposed the ceasefire and the Good Friday Agreement. Advertisement
