Latest news with #Irish-language
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
UK court grants bail to Kneecap rapper Mo Chara in terror charge case
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known by his stage name Mo Chara and a member of the Irish-language rap group Kneecap, was granted unconditional bail on Wednesday following a court appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court. The 27-year-old faces a terrorism-related charge under the UK Terrorism Act for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag and shouting 'Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah' during a concert in London in November 2024. The hearing sparked a strong public response, with hundreds of supporters—including musicians and politicians—gathering outside the courthouse. Many waved Irish and Palestinian flags, chanted 'Free Mo Chara' and 'Free Palestine,' and wore T-shirts emblazoned with the rapper's name. The courtroom itself was at full capacity, requiring extra seats for the press. Mo Chara, wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh, spoke only to confirm his identity. -Reuters. Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove emphasised that the case was not about the rapper's political views or his support for the Palestinian cause. 'He is well within his rights to voice his opinions and his solidarity,' Bisgrove told the court. Instead, the charge hinges on video footage showing Mo Chara allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag and making pro-Hamas remarks—both offences under UK law given the organisations' designation as terrorist groups. Defence lawyer Brenda Campbell argued the charge was laid beyond the six-month legal window for such an offence, asserting, 'If we are right in relation to that, then this court has no jurisdiction and there ends the case.' She also said the prosecution appeared to be 'an attempt to criminalise political expression.' Outside the court, Darragh Mackin, another member of Mo Chara's legal team, addressed the crowd of supporters, saying: 'The more they come after Kneecap, the louder they will get.' Kneecap has denied the allegations in full. In a statement released shortly after the charge was filed, the group said, 'We do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah,' calling the prosecution 'political policing' and a distraction from Israel's military actions in Gaza and the West Bank. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for August 20, where the court will determine whether the charge is legally valid within the statutory timeframe.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fans of Irish band Kneecap surround a London court as a band member faces a terror-related charge
LONDON (AP) — Fans of the Irish-language hip-hop group Kneecap mobbed sidewalks outside a London court Wednesday as a member of the trio faced a terror-related charge in what he says is a politically motivated effort to silence the band's support for Palestinians before its appearance at the Glastonbury Festival. Rapper Mo Chara, whose real name is Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was released on unconditional bail after the hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 20. Chara is charged with one count of supporting a banned terrorist organization after he allegedly waved a Hezbollah flag during a Nov. 21 concert in north London. The case was filed after counterterrorism police were alerted to video of the incident posted online, London's Metropolitan Police Service said. Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove told the court that support for the Palestinians and criticism of Israel were not the reasons for the charge filed against Chara. 'He's well within his rights to voice his opinions and solidarity, as is anybody else,'' Bisgrove said. 'The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with a video recording showing that, in November of last year, Mr. O hAnnaidh wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organization, while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah.''' Kneecap, which raps about drugs, working-class life and the reunification of Ireland, has supported the Palestinian cause throughout the war in Gaza. The band has been the center of controversy in Britain since last year, when the previous government sought to block an arts grant for the band, citing its anti-British politics. That decision was overturned after the Labour Party won last year's parliamentary election and Prime Minister Keir Starmer took office. The trio is scheduled to perform at Glastonbury on Saturday, alongside performers including Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo. The internationally watched music festival is a five-day event that attracts about 200,000 people to a farm outside the small town in western England every summer. As they entered the courthouse, the members of Kneecap, all of whom hail from Northern Ireland, gave the thumbs up sign to hundreds of supporters who had gathered outside waving signs reading: 'Free Mo Chara' and 'Defend Kneecap.' Before the hearing, the band posted billboards around London bearing the slogan 'More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara.' The message echoes the signs landlords placed in the windows of some London boarding houses in the 1950s, stating 'No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish.' 'British courts have long charged people from the North of Ireland with 'terrorism' for crimes never committed,' Kneecap said in a statement posted on social media. 'We will fight them. We will win.'
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Fans of Irish band Kneecap surround a London court as a band member faces a terror-related charge
LONDON (AP) — Fans of the Irish-language hip-hop group Kneecap mobbed sidewalks outside a London court Wednesday as a member of the trio faced a terror-related charge in what he says is a politically motivated effort to silence the band's support for Palestinians before its appearance at the Glastonbury Festival. Rapper Mo Chara, whose real name is Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was released on unconditional bail after the hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 20. Chara is charged with one count of supporting a banned terrorist organization after he allegedly waved a Hezbollah flag during a Nov. 21 concert in north London. The case was filed after counterterrorism police were alerted to video of the incident posted online, London's Metropolitan Police Service said. Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove told the court that support for the Palestinians and criticism of Israel were not the reasons for the charge filed against Chara. 'He's well within his rights to voice his opinions and solidarity, as is anybody else,'' Bisgrove said. 'The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with a video recording showing that, in November of last year, Mr. O hAnnaidh wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organization, while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah.''' Kneecap, which raps about drugs, working-class life and the reunification of Ireland, has supported the Palestinian cause throughout the war in Gaza. The band has been the center of controversy in Britain since last year, when the previous government sought to block an arts grant for the band, citing its anti-British politics. That decision was overturned after the Labour Party won last year's parliamentary election and Prime Minister Keir Starmer took office. The trio is scheduled to perform at Glastonbury on Saturday, alongside performers including Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo. The internationally watched music festival is a five-day event that attracts about 200,000 people to a farm outside the small town in western England every summer. As they entered the courthouse, the members of Kneecap, all of whom hail from Northern Ireland, gave the thumbs up sign to hundreds of supporters who had gathered outside waving signs reading: 'Free Mo Chara' and 'Defend Kneecap.' Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. Before the hearing, the band posted billboards around London bearing the slogan 'More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara.' The message echoes the signs landlords placed in the windows of some London boarding houses in the 1950s, stating 'No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish.' 'British courts have long charged people from the North of Ireland with 'terrorism' for crimes never committed,' Kneecap said in a statement posted on social media. 'We will fight them. We will win.'
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kneecap's Mo Chara due in London court today on terrorism charges
Kneecap will dash from London on Wednesday to their gig in Dublin as member Mo Chara faces terrorism charges. The rapper, whose real name is Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court over the alleged displaying of a flag in support of Hezbollah. It is alleged that Mo Chara waved the flag at the Belfast group's gig in London last November. The rap trio - which also consists of Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí - have denied any wrongdoing and said Ó hAnnaidh intends on defending the charge. After the court appearance, the group will have to dash back to Ireland as they take to the stage at Dublin's Fairview Park on Thursday. It will be one of the group's biggest solo gigs yet, as the outdoor venue has capacity for 8,000 people. The event has long been sold-out as Dublin singer Gemma Dunleavy and post-punk band Gurriers will support the Irish-language rappers. Speaking about the terrorism charges, Ó hAnnaidh said it is "political policing" and its intention is to stifle criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza. At a London gig last month, the rapper said on-stage: "There's a reason why what's happened to me, happened before Glastonbury. There's a reason they're trying to f**king stop me speaking at Glastonbury in front of the UK." Despite calls for the group to be censored at the festival, organisers have confirmed that Kneecap will be playing Glastonbury on June 28. The Smiths musician Johnny Marr took to Instagram on Monday showing his support for the Belfast group. He wrote: "After learning that calls have been made for Kneecap to be censored during their Glastonbury set, I think it's important to make my own position clear. "I've played Glastonbury many times and the festival has always had a political aspect. It was founded as a place of free expression and political activism. I stand with my audience and fellow musicians who call for an immediate end to the atrocities and a free Palestine."
Irish Examiner
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
'I was not good at Irish': Alex Murphy on Crá, the series watched in 68 countries
It's the little Irish-language series set in a local parish as it aimed to unravel a troubling and mysterious death. Now Irish crime drama Crá has become a global sensation with audiences - after being snapped up by TV networks and streamers in no fewer than 68 countries. Among the international broadcasters showing the series are BBC, high-profile French channel ARTÉ and the AMC/Acorn TV networks in the US. Crá's growing international appeal has come as welcome news to its cast and crew - including Cork actor Alex Murphy, who brushed up on his Irish to take on his first-ever Irish-language role. 'I did not anticipate the success of the show - I was just delighted with the opportunity to get back into a bit of Irish and connect to my roots,' says the actor, best known for his role as Conor in The Young Offenders, the latest series of which is currently filming in Cork. 'Then it came out, and I saw just how good it was and how well it was put together, and to hear it's doing well all around the world, and being sold all around the world is just amazing - our little language spreading. We love to see it.' Alex Murphy in Crá. With the Irish language at the forefront of a cultural drive among artists, filmmakers and musicians, the success of films like the Oscar-nominated An Cailín Ciúin and Belfast rapper movie Kneecap has also help drive interest internationally, with several other films and series as Gaeilge coming to our screens. It means that actors like Murphy are embracing the opportunity to work in Irish for the first time. 'It's amazing. I feel like there was maybe a dark patch in the Irish language that it was definitely considered untrendy, or some people would consider it dead. In recent years, to see that that just isn't the case is really exciting. I've got younger cousins in school and their automatic reaction isn't that they hate learning Irish. They're excited by it, and it's because of these great films and bands speaking the language, driving it forward. 'I was not good at Irish in school,' says Murphy, adding that working in the language presented challenges. 'I did pass Irish for my Leaving Cert and I was very nervous to take on the job. I knew I had a few months to prepare, so I just knuckled down and did the best I could. [Actor and teacher] Peadar Cox was on to me every week, doing classes and going over lines. I just quickly found for me, and I imagine a lot of kids in school would maybe resonate with this: because my passion is acting, when I knew that I could learn the language through my passion, it just came to me a lot easier. 'Right now, my Irish is the best it's ever been, and I'm continuing to keep it going. I think half the battle is confidence. You go in nervous, you have little brain-farts, and you buckle and you can't say anything. And so it's when you get a bit of confidence speaking it is when it becomes quite enjoyable.' Crá is filmed in Gweedore. Shot on location in Gweedore in Co Donegal, Crá tells the story of Garda Conall Ó Súilleabháin (Dónall Ó Héalaí, who previously starred in the award-winning famine-set drama, Arracht). He's thrust into a deeply personal case when the body of his mother, Sabine, is discovered 15 years after she vanished. Forbidden from taking part in the official investigation, Conall joins forces with Ciara-Kate (newcomer Hannah Brady), a journalist using her true crime podcast to get to the heart of the case - and the village dark secrets that harbour it. As the first series goes global, the producers and broadcasters are now hoping to begin filming a second season in early 2026. Ó Héalaí, who recently completed filming the US indie thriller After, is a native Irish speaker who embraced the chance to work as Gaeilge, having previously done so on the powerful drama Arracht. That Crá is now available to audiences in 68 countries and streaming platforms is a bonus, he says. 'For us, an Irish language series in Gweedore, we're delighted to have that reach. I can't believe it's found an audience that wide. 'It's hard not to think that things like An Cailín Ciúin and Kneecap have had a role to play in how Irish language films and series are received internationally. Both those films really got out there, and rightly so, and I think it's very inspiring to see that. In terms of Crá, or Boglands as it's known overseas, it's hard not to think that this has a little part to play in it.' As an Irish speaker, he feels particularly glad at the impact Irish screen storytelling is having both with audiences at home and internationally. 'I'm definitely proud of where the Irish-language, film and television industry currently is in terms of how it's broken through. I feel fortunate to have come up at a time with schemes like Cine4.' The Cine4 initiative, a TG4, Fís Éireann (Screen Ireland) and Coimisiún na Meán partnership to develop original feature films in the Irish language, has proved a smart driving force. The widely loved An Cailín Ciúin, adapted from Claire Keegan's story Foster, made it all the way to the Oscars, with Colm Bairéad's drama getting a nomination in the Best International Feature category. It was also a big commercial success with cinemagoers in Ireland and internationally. Dónall Ó Héalaí in Crá. Films supported by Cine4 include Famine-set drama Arracht and the charming Róise & Frank,about a grieving woman who believes a dog who arrives at her home is connected to the recent death of her husband. Other films backed by the project include recent horror release Fréwaka and the forthcoming dramas An Fidil Ghorm and Báite. 'There were decisions made that allowed for this wave of new filmmaking to emerge,' says Ó Héalai. 'I think the success of a film or a series, it's largely from the top down. We had a terrific team and obviously, the story itself, the writers had created a real local thriller in a small town, a great whodunnit. 'Gweedore itself is such an incredible place, and so many people have commented on the landscape of the show - it's a central character to the show. Whether it's in Irish or in French or in English or in Japanese, if a story is good enough, it'll get people to want to watch it. Ultimately the story itself is compelling enough to bring audiences in.' Crá is available to view on the TG4 Player
