Kneecap to perform Féile an Phobail charity gig to support Irish language youth facility in West Belfast
Kneecap and Féile an Phobail announce a groundbreaking charity concert on August 6th with two-thirds of funds raised going towards Glór na Móna’s Croí na Carraige youth and community hub
The West Belfast community are buzzing at the exclusive news of Kneecap’s homecoming gig on August 6th as part of Féile an Phobail for a sell-out charity concert in support of the grassroots Irish language revival. The main recipient will be Ballmurphy based Irish medium youth and community project, Glór na Móna who are currently fundraising for a flagship purpose-built youth, community and heritage facility on the site- Croí na Carraige.
Based on the Whiterock Road, Glór na Móna’s current facility An Ghael Ionad, has built a reputation both nationally and internationally as a ground-breaking community hub for grassroots language regeneration, critically engaged education, activist campaigning, Irish-medium youth work, community empowerment and wider social and economic regeneration in an area that remains among the most disadvantaged in the north of Ireland. An Ghael Ionad facilitated significant growth and expansion has necessitated the growing demand for a second phase capital proposal which aims to build and further develop their ambitious vision on the vacant council land adjacent to the centre. The project, known as Croí na Carraige (Heart of the Rock) has secured £1.5 million capital funding from Belfast City Council, An Chiste Infhéistíochta Gaeilge and a range of progressive US and Canadian donors who have supported the fundraising campaign in North America. With full planning permission in place and a design team appointed to deliver the project, Glór na Móna are currently £500,000 short of the funds required to appoint builders to commence the project.
Speaking on behalf of Glór na Móna, chairperson Conchur Ó Muadaigh stated:
‘To say that we are overwhelmed at this groundbreaking news is an understatement. Kneecap came from our community revival and we are humbled and honoured that they have agreed to support us by giving back through this amazing Féile concert. The story of Kneecap is deeply connected to the Glór na Móna journey, with Liam Óg, Naoise and JJ all shaped in different ways by the youth, music, festivals, and language rights spaces created by Glór na Móna and An Dream Dearg. This historic donation will go directly to Croí na Carraige which is our flagship new capital project which will sustain our activist revival movement for the next generation.
Once built, Croí na Carraige will be the first multi-purpose Irish medium youth facility in the history of the north, providing a permanent home for young people, families, learners, artists and activists. At a time when the project is within touching distance of beginning, this support will help close the final funding gap and turn years of community organising into bricks, mortar and lasting sustainable infrastructure for the next generation of young leaders. This is more than a donation; it is a legacy investment by Kneecap back into a working-class community that helped inspire and shape them.’
These points were echoed by Emma Ní Mhuireagáin, who co-ordinates Glór na Móna’a Cumann Óige Uachtar Chluanaí youth project:
‘On behalf of everyone at Glór na Móna we want to say a huge Go raibh míle maith agaibh to Kneecap for this concert. This donation will go a long way in supporting us to deliver our flagship Irish-medium capital project Croí na Carraige. We have been forced into organising our own fundraising campaign over the past year as Government departments have told us they have no money. Our young people couldn’t wait any longer and this is why we are raising our own funds. We have launched our own Buy a Brick campaign and have been blown away at how generous our community has been.
We cater for over 200 young Gaels every week and our current facilities here are simply not big enough for our youth projects. We are at breaking point. It’s over 28 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and our young people are still being squeezed into temporary cabins with barely the space to breathe. The lack of facilities here and space are really hindering the development of our young people and the expansion of our services to meet their needs. It is simply not good enough.
‘I grew up with Liam Óg, we attended Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh and Coláiste Feirste togther and both attended Cumann Óige Uachtar Chluanaí when we based under the chippy at the top of the Whiterock road. We ran about in these streets together, and when we were 15 years old we started our journey as youth leaders together in Glór na Móna.
Liam Og’s love for language and community and providing positive and empowering social spaces to young people to use their language was evident even back then 13 years ago, long before Kneecap was formed. That commitment has come full circle and Liam Óg and Kneecap giving back to the community that nourished them. Just like they did on the issue of the genocide in Palestine, Kneecap are leading from the front and following the Gaeltacht Bhóthar Seoighe mantra of Na hAbair é, dean é. This is an historic day for your young people. We would ask people across the country to support this gig to follow Kneecap’s lead and donate to help us build this crucial community facility”.
To support the fundraising campaign for Croí na Carraige be sure to get a ticket for the concert on Monday the 13th July or ‘Buy a Brick’ below!
