'Free Palestine': Kneecap perform to packed-out crowd at Glastonbury amid ongoing controversy

Irish rap trio Kneecap led crowds in chants of “f*** Keir Starmer” during their set at the Glastonbury Festival on Saturday, June 28. 

The group, who hail from Belfast, have been in the headlines after member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence.

The charge came from allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at a gig in November last year.

In the run-up to the festival located at Worthy Farm in Somerset, several politicians called for Kneecap to be removed from the line-up and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said their performance would not be “appropriate”.

As he took to the stage, Mo Chara said: “Glastonbury, I’m a free man.”

Member Naoise Ó Cairealláin, who performs under the name Móglaí Bap, said: “The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn’t want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer.”

The performer also said a “big thank you to the Eavis family”, saying “they stood strong” amid calls for the organisers to drop them from the line-up.

The band also led crowds in chants of “Free Palestine”, with Mo Chara commenting on the sheer number of flags at the festival.

Ó hAnnaidh, 27, wore a keffiyeh during the set, while member JJ Ó Dochartaigh, who performs under the name DJ Próvai, wore his signature tri-coloured balaclava as well as a T-shirt that said: “We are all Palestine Action” in reference to a soon-to-be banned campaign group.

News broadcasts criticising the hip hop trio played from the sound system before they walked onto the stage were booed by the Glastonbury Festival audience.

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The trio opened with the song Better Way To Live from their 2024 album Fine Art and also performed tracks including Get Your Brits Out and Hood.

Access to the area around the West Holts Stage was closed around 45 minutes before their performance after groups of fans arrived to form a sea of Irish and Palestinian flags.

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 was understood that the BBC needed to consider the performance before making a final decision.

Later on in the day, the group said on Instagram: “The propaganda wing of the regime has just contacted us….

“They WILL put our set from Glastonbury today on the iPlayer later this evening for your viewing pleasure.”

During their set Mo Chara said: “The BBC editor is going to have some job” in regard to the sea of Palestinian flags.

On June 18, Liam Óg Ó O hAnnaidh was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Ó Cairealláin and Ó Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts.

He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing at the same court on August 20.

In reference to his bandmate’s upcoming court date, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, who performs under the name Móglaí Bap, said they would “start a riot outside the courts”, before clarifying: “No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine.”

In a post on social media after Kneecap's performance, Avon and Somerset Police said: “We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon.

“Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.”