Father of Kneecap’s Móglái Bap passes away before biggest headline show in Belfast: “Tonight is for him”

The father of Kneecap’s Móglái Bap has passed away just ahead of the band’s biggest ever headline show in Belfast, with the band vowing to play the gig “for him”.

• READ MORE: ‘Kneecap’ review: ballsy, brave and one of the best music biopics ever made

As confirmed by a post on the hip-hop trio’s social media, Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, 67, died on Friday (December 20), with the band writing: “He was an Irish language revolutionary, community activist, loving father, husband and an inspiration to many. We are heartbroken.”

Kneecap play a headline show at Belfast’s SSE Arena tonight (December 21), which has been described as the largest Irish language gig in the city’s history. “Nothing would have made him prouder,” Kneecap added. “Tonight is for him.”

Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, father of Móglái Bap passed away last night.

He was an Irish language revolutionary, community activist, loving father, husband and an inspiration to many.

We are heartbroken. 💔

Tonight’s concert at the SSE arena will be the largest Irish language… pic.twitter.com/AAm5rkoI6i

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) December 21, 2024

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam,” they concluded, a traditional Irish blessing which translates as, “May his soul be at the right hand of God”.

The Irish News report that Ó Cairealláin passed away in Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital following a short illness. He suffered a stroke nearly two decades ago that left him paralysed from the waist down.

Earlier this year, the film Kneecap chronicled the group’s unconventional rise to fame and revolved around Michael Fassbender’s Arlo Ó Cairealláin, a tireless champion of Irish language and culture that was, in the story of the film, the father of Naoise ‘Móglái Bap’ Ó Cairealláin, although he was not a direct representation of Gearóid Ó Cairealláin.

Kneecap was recently named by NME as the best film of 2024, who noted: “Inspired by the three’s experiences growing up in post-Troubles Belfast – as well as their wit and endless imagination – this dark comedy cum docudrama cum fictionalised origin story follows low level drug dealers Móglaí and Mo as they bumble through life getting beaten up by Republicans and Loyalists alike. Eventually, via a drug-induced creative bender, they discover a love for making music and form Kneecap with a local schoolteacher. Cue the funniest and most exciting band biopic since, well, ever.”

The film has now been shortlisted for two Oscars – Best International Feature and Best Original Song – with the final list of nominees set to be confirmed on January 17.

Earlier this month Kneecap took home seven wins at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), including a joint lead accolade for its stars.

The band released their debut album ‘Fine Art’ this year, which was also named as one of the albums of the year by NME. “Cheeky, clever, countercultural: this is everything you want in a debut album,” NME wrote. “The Belfast trio get gacked with glee on ‘Fine Art’, unleashing a brand-new vocabulary of Irish words for their hijinks along with some of the deadliest festival tunes of 2024. To disgruntled parents, we say: Tá fáilte romhat!

The group were also one of NME’s cover stars earlier this year. Speaking in the interview, the band reflected on how they had helped to raise nearly £100,000 for a volunteer gym in the Aida Refugee Camp in Palestine, broadcast their message during high-profile TV appearances, and joined the boycott of SXSW this year due to it being sponsored by The Army.