Latest news with #Belfast-based
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Glastonbury viewers make same complaint about Neil Young 60 seconds in
Neil Young headlined the Pyramid Stage on day two of the festival, but viewers were left struggling to hear him properly as they complained about the sound and audio As the sun set on Glastonbury Festival's Saturday, legendary headliner Neil Young took centre stage on the iconic Pyramid Stage. Over 200,000 revellers have descended upon Worthy Farm this weekend, but Saturday, June 28 wasn't without its hitches amidst the numerous musical highlights. In the lead-up to the festival, Belfast-based group Kneecap found themselves at the centre of controversy, with the BBC opting not to broadcast their performance live. This decision came after band member Liam Og O hAnnaidh made headlines following a charge of a terror offence, allegedly displaying a flag in support of the proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah and declaring "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" during a gig in November last year A spokesperson for the BBC explained: "As the broadcast partner, the BBC is bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers. While the BBC doesn't ban artists, our plans ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines. "We don't always live-stream every act from the main stages and look to make an on-demand version of Kneecap's performance available on our digital platforms, alongside more than 90 other sets." In another unexpected turn of events, Deftones were forced to pull out of their highly anticipated primetime slot, with rapper Skepta stepping in as a last-minute replacement, reports the Manchester Evening News. Meanwhile, Pulp made a triumphant return to Glastonbury after a 30-year absence, taking to the stage under the secret moniker Patchwork to surprise and delight fans. Neil Young took centre stage on the Pyramid Stage while Charli XCX rocked the Other Stage. The 79 year old rock legend sparked a bit of a stir when he "pulled out" of Glastonbury, stating at the time: "We were told that BBC was now a partner in Glastonbury and wanted us to do a lot of things in a way we were not interested in. It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being." However, the musician later withdrew his earlier remarks, clarifying that there had been an "error in information" and expressing that he's "looking forward" to playing at the festival. Those tuning in from home shared a common gripe about the audio during Neil's set, complaining that they couldn't hear him properly. On X (formerly known as Twitter), @mostly_grumpy commented: "Neil Young has 60+ years in showbusiness but hasn't mastered singing into a microphone". Another viewer, @rjc99999, chimed in with: "someone tell Neil Young to sing into a microphone", while @Cheewence responded: "Sound needs turning up like ffs, he's shredding that axe and you can hardly hear it".
Irish Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Post
Kneecap respond to PM's claims that Glastonbury set is not ‘appropriate'
KNEECAP have issued a response after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said their planned appearance at Glastonbury this weekend is 'not appropriate'. The PM claims the Irish language rap group, which is made up of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí, should not perform at the festival as one of the band members has been charged with a terror offence. Last month the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command charged band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, whose stage name is Mo Chara, over a Palestinian flag allegedly displayed at the Belfast based band's show at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London on November 21, 2024. The force said that the 27-year-old displayed the flag "in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation, namely Hezbollah". He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18, where he was released on unconditional bail to return for a further hearing on August 20. Irish rap group Kneecap singer, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (L), who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, stands with band mates Naoise Ó Cairealláin, aka Moglai Bap (R) and JJ Ó Dochartaigh aka DJ Provai (C), outside Westminster Magistrates' Court Following the hearing Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch claimed Kneecap's Glastonbury set 'should not be shown' on the BBC. 'One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act,' she said. 'As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism,' she added. The Prime Minister has also claimed that the band playing at Glastonbury is not 'appropriate'. When asked by the Sun if he thought they should play their set this weekend, he said 'no, I don't, and I think we need to come down really clearly on this'. "This is about the threats that shouldn't be made, I won't say too much because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate,' he added. Kneecap have since responded to the prime minister's statement in a post via their social media channels. 'You know what's 'not appropriate' Keir?! Arming a f****** genocide,' they said. Ó hAnnaidh was cheered on by hundreds of supporters as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court last week. Bandmates Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh accompanied him to the hearing, wearing 'Free Mo Chara' t-shirts. Guildford Four and Birmingham Six lawyer Gareth Pierce is leading the legal team defending Ó hAnnaidh as he fights the charge against him. The team also includes Belfast-based Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law, Brenda Campbell KC, Jude Bunting KC and Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC. Kneecap is due to play the West Holts stage at Glastonbury at 4pm this Saturday, June 28. See More: Glastonbury, Kemi Badenoch, Kneecap, Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Leader Live
20-06-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Leaders on both sides of the border urge completion of Casement Park
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill said that it is now time for all those involved to sit around the table and find a way to start and complete the project. Irish premier Micheal Martin said the opportunity to build the stadium should 'be seized', while deputy premier Simon Harris warned against looking back to see that the moment was 'squandered'. Earlier this month, a UK Government pledge of £50 million for the development of the west Belfast GAA stadium was included in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' spending review. However, that pledge still leaves the project far from its funding target under current plans. Plans for a 34,000-capacity stadium at the site have been mired in uncertainty because of a major funding gap. Stormont ministers committed £62.5 million to Casement in 2011, as part of a strategy to revamp it along with football's Windsor Park and the rugby ground at Ravenhill. While the two other Belfast-based projects went ahead, the redevelopment of Casement was delayed for several years because of legal challenges by local residents. The estimated cost spiralled in the interim. Speaking at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Armagh, Ms O'Neill said it is time for all partners to 'find a way to complete' Casement Park. Ms O'Neill said: 'We all have a role in making sure we get to that point.' Asked if the GAA should reconsider the plans for the west Belfast stadium development based on existing commitments for funding, Ms O'Neill said the stadium is now more expensive than if it had been built 'a long time ago'. She said the delays were due to a 'whole plague of problems' including planning and political issues. She said the redevelopment would bring 'major social and economic benefits'. Ms O'Neill added that Casement Park is an Executive flagship project. 'We now know what the pot of funding that we have on the table, but now it's time for all partners involved to get together and sit around the table and find a way now to complete and start the work on the project and to complete the project,' she added. 'I think we all have a role to play in terms of making sure we get to that point. 'But I think it's now time that we now know and understand the quantum of funding, that we now sit down together and actually work out the next step.' Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said it is 'now over to the GAA' to set out their expectations on their own contribution to the west Belfast stadium and any potential revisions to the development. She said there was a 'significant amount of need' in other sporting areas across the region with other facilities also needing to be upgraded. She added: 'We need to do so with fairness and equity. 'They are sitting on, I think, approximately £161 or £162 million worth of public spending. 'It's now over to the GAA to decide can they cut their coat according to their cloth, or what their expectations are in relation to their own contribution.' She added that the GAA can 'do a huge amount' with existing funding commitments for Casement Park, and that the GAA should indicate what its contribution increase should be. Mr Martin said the Irish Government had given a 'very substantial' allocation to the project. 'I believe the prospect really exists for a stadium to be agreed and built and this is an opportunity that should be seized in a practical and realistic way.' Mr Harris said the recent UK funding announcement was a 'huge step forward' for the project. He said the Irish Government stands ready to assist the project and warned against looking back to see that the moment was 'squandered'.
Irish Examiner
20-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Leaders on both sides of the border urge completion of Casement Park
Leaders on both sides of the border have urged all partners to 'find a way' to complete Casement Park. Northern Ireland first minister Michelle O'Neill said that it is now time for all those involved to sit around the table and find a way to start and complete the project. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the opportunity to build the stadium should 'be seized', while Tánaiste Simon Harris warned against looking back to see that the moment was 'squandered'. Earlier this month, a British government pledge of £50m for the development of the west Belfast GAA stadium was included in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' spending review. However, that pledge still leaves the project far from its funding target under current plans. Plans for a 34,000-capacity stadium at the site have been mired in uncertainty because of a major funding gap. Stormont ministers committed £62.5m to Casement in 2011, as part of a strategy to revamp it along with football's Windsor Park and the rugby ground at Ravenhill. While the two other Belfast-based projects went ahead, the redevelopment of Casement was delayed for several years because of legal challenges by local residents. The estimated cost spiralled in the interim. Speaking at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Armagh, Ms O'Neill said it is time for all partners to 'find a way to complete' Casement Park. Ms O'Neill said: 'We all have a role in making sure we get to that point.' Asked if the GAA should reconsider the plans for the west Belfast stadium development based on existing commitments for funding, Ms O'Neill said the stadium is now more expensive than if it had been built 'a long time ago'. She said the delays were due to a 'whole plague of problems' including planning and political issues. She said the redevelopment would bring 'major social and economic benefits'. Ms O'Neill added that Casement Park is an Executive flagship project. 'We now know what the pot of funding that we have on the table, but now it's time for all partners involved to get together and sit around the table and find a way now to complete and start the work on the project and to complete the project,' she added. 'I think we all have a role to play in terms of making sure we get to that point. 'But I think it's now time that we now know and understand the quantum of funding, that we now sit down together and actually work out the next step.' Deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly said it is 'now over to the GAA' to set out their expectations on their own contribution to the west Belfast stadium and any potential revisions to the development. She said there was a 'significant amount of need' in other sporting areas across the region with other facilities also needing to be upgraded. She added: 'We need to do so with fairness and equity. 'They are sitting on, I think, approximately £161 or £162m worth of public spending. 'It's now over to the GAA to decide can they cut their coat according to their cloth, or what their expectations are in relation to their own contribution.' She added that the GAA can 'do a huge amount' with existing funding commitments for Casement Park, and that the GAA should indicate what its contribution increase should be. Mr Martin said the Irish Government had given a 'very substantial' allocation to the project. 'I believe the prospect really exists for a stadium to be agreed and built and this is an opportunity that should be seized in a practical and realistic way.' Mr Harris said the recent British funding announcement was a 'huge step forward' for the project. He said the Irish Government stands ready to assist the project and warned against looking back to see that the moment was 'squandered'.
Rhyl Journal
20-06-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Leaders on both sides of the border urge completion of Casement Park
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill said that it is now time for all those involved to sit around the table and find a way to start and complete the project. Irish premier Micheal Martin said the opportunity to build the stadium should 'be seized', while deputy premier Simon Harris warned against looking back to see that the moment was 'squandered'. Earlier this month, a UK Government pledge of £50 million for the development of the west Belfast GAA stadium was included in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' spending review. However, that pledge still leaves the project far from its funding target under current plans. Plans for a 34,000-capacity stadium at the site have been mired in uncertainty because of a major funding gap. Stormont ministers committed £62.5 million to Casement in 2011, as part of a strategy to revamp it along with football's Windsor Park and the rugby ground at Ravenhill. While the two other Belfast-based projects went ahead, the redevelopment of Casement was delayed for several years because of legal challenges by local residents. The estimated cost spiralled in the interim. Speaking at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Armagh, Ms O'Neill said it is time for all partners to 'find a way to complete' Casement Park. Ms O'Neill said: 'We all have a role in making sure we get to that point.' Asked if the GAA should reconsider the plans for the west Belfast stadium development based on existing commitments for funding, Ms O'Neill said the stadium is now more expensive than if it had been built 'a long time ago'. She said the delays were due to a 'whole plague of problems' including planning and political issues. She said the redevelopment would bring 'major social and economic benefits'. Ms O'Neill added that Casement Park is an Executive flagship project. 'We now know what the pot of funding that we have on the table, but now it's time for all partners involved to get together and sit around the table and find a way now to complete and start the work on the project and to complete the project,' she added. 'I think we all have a role to play in terms of making sure we get to that point. 'But I think it's now time that we now know and understand the quantum of funding, that we now sit down together and actually work out the next step.' Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said it is 'now over to the GAA' to set out their expectations on their own contribution to the west Belfast stadium and any potential revisions to the development. She said there was a 'significant amount of need' in other sporting areas across the region with other facilities also needing to be upgraded. She added: 'We need to do so with fairness and equity. 'They are sitting on, I think, approximately £161 or £162 million worth of public spending. 'It's now over to the GAA to decide can they cut their coat according to their cloth, or what their expectations are in relation to their own contribution.' She added that the GAA can 'do a huge amount' with existing funding commitments for Casement Park, and that the GAA should indicate what its contribution increase should be. Mr Martin said the Irish Government had given a 'very substantial' allocation to the project. 'I believe the prospect really exists for a stadium to be agreed and built and this is an opportunity that should be seized in a practical and realistic way.' Mr Harris said the recent UK funding announcement was a 'huge step forward' for the project. He said the Irish Government stands ready to assist the project and warned against looking back to see that the moment was 'squandered'.
