Latest news with #Gaeilge
Irish Times
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Fans rally behind Kneecap after London court appearance: ‘If you're supporting Ireland, you're supporting Kneecap'
Kneecap's place in the Irish zeitgeist was voiced without hesitation by fans of the Irish-language rap group streaming into Dublin's Fairview Park venue in their thousands on Thursday evening. Having jockeyed for position in cultural and social spaces in recent years, for many fans the group now stands both at the intersection and forefront of Irish music and politics. Eimear O'Connor from Finglas, Dublin, has been a fan of Kneecap since the release of their song Cearta. For her, the group is all encompassing – from Bohemian Football Club and Bang Bang coffee shop to recognising the lasting impact of colonialism on Ireland and Palestine . 'Rapping as Gaeilge is a huge way to bring Irish into modern culture and get people interested in it,' O'Connor said. 'Also, given Irish traditional music and the linguistics of Gaeilge, it works so well with rap.' READ MORE Like other fans, she was excited to hear what Kneecap might have to say about Mo Chara's (AKA Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh) London court appearance on Wednesday . Ó hAnnaidh was charged under UK antiterrorism legislation with showing support for a proscribed organisation after it was alleged he draped himself in a Hizbullah flag at a London gig last November. Rebecca Nichols and Keith Henderson said they are unsupportive of the case against him. 'It's absolutely ridiculous, there's no evidence,' Nichols said. 'Even if you don't agree with what he said, does he not have free speech to say it?' Pointing to the Irish Tricolours and Palestinian keffiyehs donned by surrounding concert goers, she added: 'If you're supporting Ireland, you're supporting Kneecap.' [ Kneecap case: 'A woman pointed to a sniggering Móglaí Bap as the magistrate asked if anyone knew an Irish interpreter' Opens in new window ] Henderson said it is more important than ever to show support for the group, who he originally began to follow because of their use of the Irish language. 'It's good to keep the Irish language alive,' Henderson said. 'It's also funny rap, it's entertaining'. Rhia McConnell, an Irish teacher from Cork, credits Kneecap with reviving her students' interest in the language. 'It's given some of them a huge love for Irish, the Kneecap film really helped a lot,' McConnell said. 'People in their 20s and 30s relate to them too because their music is just so modern.' The link between their music and advocacy seems undeniable – fan Cheryl Walshe said they have introduced children to what colonialism truly means and 'also act as a counter to some of the racist rhetoric' that young people may be exposed to. Thursday night marked the numerical pinnacle of their career with Fairview Park hosting their biggest solo gig to date with a capacity crowd of 8,000. Another appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court awaits Mo Chara who is contesting the charge and has not yet entered a plea. The group may face rocky times ahead, but steady support is strongly behind them.
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Member of Irish rap band Kneecap appears in court on ‘terrorism' charge
A member of the Irish rap group Kneecap has appeared in a London court over an alleged 'terrorism' offence, as hundreds of his supporters gathered outside the building. Liam O'Hanna, who performs under the name Mo Chara, entered Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday morning, a month after he was charged for allegedly waving a flag of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah at a concert in the United Kingdom's capital last November. Under British law, it is illegal to display articles promoting banned groups like Hezbollah. Kneecap, a Belfast-based group who rap in English but mostly in Gaeilge (Gaelic, the Irish language), have rejected the charge of 'terrorism'. 'We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction,' the band wrote on X last month. O'Hanna told London's Wide Awake Festival last month that it was an attempt to 'silence us'. The band has long spoken out against Israel's actions in Gaza, saying the country is committing 'genocide', something the Israeli government denies. In court on Wednesday, the prosecution suggested the case was not about the rapper's stance on Israel and Palestine. 'He is well within his rights to voice his opinions and his solidarity, as is anybody else,' prosecutor Michael Bisgrove said. 'The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with the video recording showing that, in November of last year, Mr O'Hanna wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah … while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'.' In response, Brenda Campbell, the defendant's lawyer, claimed the charge was brought too late, as it came more than six months after the alleged crime was committed at a gig in Kentish Town, north London. 'If we are right in relation to that, then this court has no jurisdiction and there ends the case,' Campbell said. Judge Paul Goldspring said a further hearing would be held on August 20 to determine whether the defence was correct in this assessment. Before O'Hanna's appearance in court on Wednesday, Kneecap took to X to note that dozens of Palestinians had been killed by Israeli soldiers on Tuesday in Gaza while waiting for aid delivery trucks. 'Meanwhile tomorrow they will try label Mo Chara a terrorist,' Kneecap added. A supporter standing outside the London courtroom on Wednesday, who only gave her name as Sadia, felt similarly, calling the charge against the rapper 'ridiculous'. 'Kneecap actually represent every one of us. They speak for us, you know, because everything they feel, every injustice that they feel, we feel,' she said. The band shot to international prominence last year after a semi-fictional film about them received multiple awards, including one at the Sundance Film Festival. The Irish trio have been supported by prominent British musicians such as Paul Weller and Brian Eno, who have decried what they call the 'concerted attempt to censor and de-platform Kneecap'. The charge against O'Hanna is not the only controversy faced by the group. Kneecap apologised this year when a video from 2023 surfaced, which appeared to show one singer calling for the death of British Conservative Party politicians.
The 42
6 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
'To lift a trophy in the Hogan Stand with all your mates, it's incredibly special'
LEINSTER DID THEIR trophy lift, enjoyed their lap of honour, and then they went up into the Hogan Stand for another trophy lift. Croke Park traditions and all. The first moment Jack Conan got his hands on the URC trophy down on the pitch was as delightful as he had imagined. In keeping with another tradition, he shared the lift with injured captain Caelan Doris and the retiring Cian Healy. Others like Ross Byrne, Liam Turner, and Rob Russell are leaving Leinster too, but it was only right that Healy got his moment in the limelight, even if he fought against it. 'I would have loved to have Ross and Liamo and Robbo up there, but three people lifting a trophy is enough,' said Conan. 'Caelan is a fantastic captain and I'm only here today because he unfortunately has been injured. He has led the team unbelievably well. We compete for a position but get on so well. He has been brilliant. 'Then for Cian, who is probably Leinster's greatest ever servant, for all he has done. He would hate that. I said it to him that I knew he would say no, but to please come up and lift the trophy because it's only fitting that someone like that who has given their all and done incredibly well over the years gets their final moment with the trophy. I'm glad he said yes because I thought he was going to fight me. It's the least he deserved.' As for the second trophy lift in the Hogan Stand, Conan was just going with the flow. Advertisement He couldn't shed light on whose idea it was. 'I have absolutely no idea,' said Conan. 'Marcus O'Buachalla [Leinster's head of communications], he needs a shout out at least once a week! 'I was conscious of the lads trying to lift up my shirt and making an absolute mug of me so I was tucking that in. 'Look, to be in the Hogan Stand to lift a trophy with all your mates, family, loved ones, it's incredibly special and something that will live long in the memory. 'I had a few words as Gaeilge but I was told my pronunciation was all over the place, so they told me not to do it! I don't think they wanted me to do a speech, I was told less is more!' Leinster's first trophy lift. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Conan was beaming with pride after Leinster's 32-7 win over the Bulls. He was clearly eager to get back into the celebrations but he took the time to underline his pride at their performance on the big occasion 'I'm just delighted for the lads they performed. That's what we spoke about during the week. We didn't want to be outcome-focused, we wanted to be performance-focused. And it think we did that in spades today. 'For 80-odd minutes, I think the lads showed up really well, were incredibly physical and that's what we asked of each other.' Leinster's brilliant start was crucial as they raced into a 19-0 lead, but there was as much satisfaction in shutting the Bulls out with two massive defensive stands just before half time. 'It boils down to man on man and wanting to put your head where you wouldn't put a shovel,' said Conan. 'Getting off the line and trying to whack people. You can lose focus a little bit and think about all the different parts of rugby but ultimately it's a physical game and what we teed ourselves up for all week was the physicality of it and winning a battle and I think we did that throughout. 'Everyone spoke about the threat of their scrum and I thought the lads were great. A few decisions didn't go our way but you look at the lads who came on in the second half were incredible – and the lads who started as well were brilliant 'So unbelievably proud of everyone's effort, not just the lads who played today but everyone who contributed throughout the season.'
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Leo Cullen's hilarious reaction to being asked about 'Leo' chants at final
Chants of 'Leo, Leo, Leo' rang around Croke Park during and after Leinster's URC final victory over the Bulls. And Leinster head coach Leo Cullen exploded with laughter when he was asked by a South African journalist about his emotions on hearing his name being chanted by the record crowd for an Irish final. "Ha ha, that was for Leo the Lion," exclaimed Cullen."Just to say I don't want to take the credit here! "One of my memories when I came back from England, I was playing in England between 2005 and 2007, Leinster wasn't a happy place back in those days. "But I remember playing in the RDS in 2007 and we were defending a lineout and I could hear the crowd go, 'Leo, Leo!' and I was thinking 'this crowd love me' and then in the corner of my eye I could see the lion doing a dance, and I was like, 'Ahh good luck'. "But Leo the Lion did a great job!" After the official URC trophy presentation on the Croke Park pitch, a contingent of the playing group walked up the Hogan Stand steps where skipper Jack Conan lifted the trophy again in the traditional spot that many a GAA captain has done the same. Asked who came up with the idea, Conan replied: 'I have absolutely no idea. "Marcus O'Buachalla (Leinster media manager), he needs a shout out at least once a week! 'I was conscious of the lads trying to lift up my shirt and making an absolute mug of me so I was tucking that in. 'Look, to be on the Hogan Stand to lift a trophy with all your mates, family, loved ones, it's incredibly special and something that will live long in the memory. 'I had a few words as Gaeilge but I was told my pronunciation was all over the place, so they told me not to do it! I don't think they wanted me to do a speech, I was told less is more!" Conan described the victory as "incredibly special", adding: "It's not something you could ever dream of when you were growing up or even in the last few years because obviously it has been long since we had played here as a club. 'So, it's not something that was ever on your radar but it's just fantastic. I know it wasn't full today but there were 46-odd thousand people and we could feel every single one of them. 'We could hear their voices and they got behind us. They stayed after the final whistle for us to do a lap. "One of the big reasons we do what we do is to give back to the people who come to support us through the good days and the bad days. 'It's incredibly pertinent that we give them something to celebrate. I think everyone is just elated."
Irish Independent
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wicklow student's evening dress made from old jeans wins national award
Host of other Wicklow students and schools also rewarded for sustainability efforts and projects Wicklow People Today at 10:00 When you're in a charity shop and see a nice pair of second-hand jeans, they don't immediately scream 'evening dress'. But for one talented Wicklow student that level of imagination has led to a national award. Loreto Bray Secondary School, along with other Wicklow secondary schools, participated in 'ReLove Fashion', which is a sustainable fashion competition open to young people of secondary school age in Ireland. This year, Edena Foot, a third-year student, won the national award for 'best evening dress'. With a growing focus on sustainable, slow fashion, Edena created a stunning evening dress from old denim jeans found in a local charity shop. The dress features hand embroidery and was inspired by aquatic life and the pollution caused by fast fashion. She received her award as primary and secondary schools accepted their well-deserved Green Flags at The Helix in Dublin, in recognition of the excellent work undertaken by students as part of the Green Schools program delivered by An Taisce. Along the same theme as Edena's dress, the 'Rubbish Film Festival' is a creative transition year program that provides a platform for students to explore and research sustainable development goal number 12, 'responsible consumption'. The short, one-minute films created by student teams were full of well-researched topics, focusing on themes such as fast fashion, habitat destruction, water conservation, and even AI. Coláiste Craobh Abhann took the county's best prize back to Kilcoole, while Coláiste Raithin won county first prize for the best impact film, which was presented in Gaeilge. Additionally, St David's in Greystones was awarded second place for the best film award. Another winner was Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhóir in Arklow, awarded a regional prize for their efforts focused on the water theme. Additionally, Scoil Mhuire Réalt na Mara in Brittas Bay received a regional award for their outstanding work on the 'global citizenship marine environment' theme and also secured a national award under the Marine Institute's explorer's education programme. Scoil Mhuire Réalt na Mara is one of only 32 European schools selected for the recently launched EU Blue Lights program.
