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Irish Examiner
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Suzanne Harrington: 'Terrorist-adjacent', hilarious, galvanising, inspirational Kneecap
At a moment where that Chinese curse — may you live in interesting times — is taking itself far too literally, we could all do with a fat slap of levity. I'm pinning my hopes on Kneecap's Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh when he shows up at Westminster magistrates court this Wednesday on terror charges. I'm hoping he'll ask for a translator, like he did while playing a version of himself in the Kneecap film. That life will imitate art, and he will not speak a single word of English during this nonsensical waste of Liam's time and taxpayers' cash. Because really... terror charges? A surreal idea, like something dreamed up by Flann O'Brien and Franz Kafka after sharing a pot of peyote tea. These charges do not include any actual terrorism — no bombing of schools and hospitals, vaporising ambulances, starving and murdering tens of thousands of civilians — but centre on the alleged handling of a banned flag indoors last November. Touching a rectangle of fabric. Briefly. Kneecap, who have asked supporters to gather outside the London court building on the day, describe this moment of British power-flexing theatrics as 'political policing', a 'carnival of distraction'. Goliath, as ever, punching down; Daithí readying his sling. Because if the British government wants a carnival, it could not have cast better players. Kneecap know all about performance, situationism, absurdism. They themselves are fearless theatre. Imagine then this life-imitating-art scenario, where Liam Óg speaks only Irish in court. Imagine how funny that would be, how utterly, brilliantly comedic, how richly satisfying. The spluttering, the outrage, the apoplexy. The hilarity. The glee. And yes, it's a lot to ask a 27-year-old facing the wrath of the British establishment doing their best to intimidate, to derail his career, but tá bualain ar an bhuach. (And yes, of course I had to google that. I can't speak Irish; unlike Peig Sayers, Kneecap are the first people who have ever inspired me to look up any Irish words. Don't hate me if it reads like a badly translated menu). Celtic fans unveil a banner that reads "Free Palestine" and "Kneecap Abu" during the Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday May 24, 2025. PA Photo. That's why the establishment wants to squash Kneecap, cancel them, restrict their movement — because they inspire. They galvanise. Like those enormous peaceful marches for Palestine that regularly bring central London to a halt but are never reported by the BBC or other major British media (turnout for the last one on May 17 was 500,000-600,000) — Kneecap, along with a handful of other vocal critics, are doing what the British government is not: loudly calling out atrocities. They're being labelled as terrorist-adjacent for their trouble, as they provide a focus for people appalled at the genocide, appalled at the complicity of the US and Britain. Along with the marches, along with other musicians such as Fontaines and Macklemore, they are providing an unofficial form of anger management. It must be infuriating therefore for those keen to shut them up to see how the more Kneecap hold their nerve, hold their principles ('If it comes down to awards or breaking America by sacrificing what you believe in, then America can go fuck itself') the bigger they get. Cancelled from a Scottish festival that caved to 'safety concerns', they sold out an alternative venue in seconds. Glastonbury refused to cancel them. And in September, they play their biggest venue to date — Wembley Arena. The cancelling is not going well. I'm off to google the Irish for 'fight the power'. Read More Film Reviews: How to Train Your Dragon makes superb use of Northern Irish scenery
Scotsman
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Tearful Celtic captain Callum McGregor says penalty miss in final defeat his ‘worst moment in football'
Celtic skipper saw penalty saved as Aberdeen claim cup win Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Celtic captain Callum McGregor vowed to use his 'worst moment in football' as fuel to come back stronger after he broke down in tears following a Hampden penalty shoot-out defeat against Aberdeen. Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov saved as McGregor took the first penalty before sealing his club's first Scottish Cup triumph in 35 years when he denied Alistair Johnston to secure a 4-3 win. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Celtic were heading for a sixth treble in nine years following Alfie Dorrington's own goal but Kasper Schmeichel scooped a low cross into his own net in the 83rd minute and Aberdeen held on for a 1-1 draw after extra time. McGregor had never lost a cup final and his pain was evident after missing out on a 25th winners' medal. Celtic's Callum McGregor (right) after the Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday May 24, 2025. | PA When asked how difficult a moment it was, the 31-year-old said: 'The worst. The worst moment I've ever had in football. It's a real sore one. I'll just need to go away and try and get over it and come back next year and be stronger. 'We didn't do enough in the game to deserve it and then when you get to penalties it's a bit of a lottery. The last few times we've come out on the right side of it and today we didn't. It's a real sore way to finish the season. Up until this point it's been an amazing season. We just didn't do enough to cap it off.' McGregor and his team-mates stayed behind to clap their opponents after collecting their losers' medals. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'You have to stand and watch that,' he said. 'It's where you want to be. We've been lucky that we haven't had it too many times. When you see that, it's so raw, it's so hurtful. So you have to use that as fuel when you come back and try and never be in that position again. 'Listen, I've bounced back from difficult situations before. It will take me a while to get over it but once the new season starts, that's up to me to show everyone that you've got a bit of steel. We're so used to winning that when you don't, you feel it 10 times more. 'For sure, there'll be learning in that, it's just so raw at the minute. But for sure, the group can learn from it, can be better for it because sometimes you have to go through a wee bit of adversity to grow and get better.' Celtic's Callum McGregor (left) and manager Brendan Rodgers after the Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday May 24, 2025. | PA Manager Brendan Rodgers consoled McGregor as the tears flowed. 'He just said it can happen to anyone,' the midfielder said. 'It's obviously a personal moment but the gist of it was to 'keep your head up and you've done so much for the club and had so much success for the club'. He's obviously just to be there for you in that moment.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad McGregor added: 'I think, take away today, it's been an amazing season up until this point. When it's the last day and it doesn't go your way then the whole thing feels like it's pointless. That's because we've been so good, we've managed to come to these moments and get through them.
