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Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Everything you need to know about Kneecap's eagerly awaited Glasto performance
One of the most contentious topics at this year's Glastonbury Festival is the scheduled performance of Irish language rap group Kneecap. The issue has become a major talking point among festival-goers. Despite facing pressure from British politicians and others, the festival organisers have chosen not to cancel the Irish band's appearance. This comes after allegations that the band displayed a flag in support of the proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah and chanted "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" during a gig in London last November. One of the band members, Liam Og O hAnnaidh, is currently out on bail and set to reappear in court in August, following a court appearance earlier this month. He denies the charges, and the band has apologised to the families of murdered MPs, claiming that footage of the incident was "exploited and weaponised". Kneecap is set to perform at Glastonbury on Saturday at 4pm, and an enormous crowd is expected to attend. The controversy has only added to the band's popularity, particularly among the festival's left-wing, anti-establishment, and pro-Palestinian attendees. As a group known for their strong political voice, the band from west Belfast and Derry are likely to use their platform to express their views on Saturday afternoon at Worthy Farm. Worthy Farm is gearing up for an emotionally charged performance this weekend, with band lyrics and social media posts centring around the harrowing issue of child starvation in Gaza, reports Somerset Live. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and opposition leader, Tory MP Kemi Badenoch have piped up this week, insisting that the BBC should give the concert a miss on the telly. But the group's run-in with the law and Mo Chara's recent court appearance has only boosted their fame, sparking loads of support all over social media. Support is expected to be massive for the Pro Palestinian crew at Glastonbury, known for their unique Irish rapped tunes in a Northern Irish twang. Hailing from west Belfast where pride in nationalism is painted on the walls, they're belting out messages for a united Ireland and stand against any sort of heavy-handed policing or government control. You'll spot Palestine flags fluttering nearly everywhere you look in areas like Divis Flats and Falls Road, showing local solidarity from the heart of west Belfast. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week However, there's been a bit of a stir in Somerset as some high-profile locals have been bending the ear of Glastonbury Festival bosses, trying to get the band's slot pulled – but so far, the festival has not budged and hasn't given in to the noise. The scene was buzzing outside Westminster Magistrates' Court when O hAnnaidh appeared with his mates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, decked out in "Free Mo Chara" gear, to a hero's welcome. When he reappears in court in August, an even larger crowd is expected to rally in support, with numerous pro-Palestinian social media groups encouraging people to show their solidarity. Their Glastonbury gig is set to be a full house, with youngsters already planning to arrive hours ahead of their 4pm kick-off. Their distinctive Irish rapping on political issues, particularly Free Palestine, is sure to echo across the Glastonbury hills, much to the delight of the audience.
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Watch Shane Lowry's giddy reaction to seeing Portrush mural for the first time as fans say ‘hopefully Clara is next'
SHANE LOWRY smiled from ear-to-ear as he saw a mural dedicated to him for the first time in person. The Championship . 1 Shane Lowry visited a mural in his honour in Portrush for the first time While aware of the mural, Friday was the first time that Lowry saw it in person. He shared a video driving past the painting, giving a giddy "waheeeeeey" before stopping for a photo in front of it. Fans reacted to the video on A second follower added: "You need to sign that so it can be painted on" Read More on Shane Lowry Lee said: "They do love their murals.. but that one is particularly nice ." Brendan said: "Savage Shane. Mo rest for the wicked. Great Mural. Hopefully Clara will get one next " Sam said: "Whoever you are, and whatever you've achieved, it's gotta be surreal seeing your face on the side of a house!" Another said: "The Irish…. This is how we roll" Most read in Golf The Open Championship returns to the Northern Irish town for the first time since the Offaly claimed his maiden major title in 2019. Lowry's fairy tale win on home soil will go down in the history books as one the greatest moments in the history of Irish sport. 'One of stupidest things I've ever done' - Shane Lowry speechless after forgetting most basic rule of golf at US Open The Clara star won the 2019 Open Championship with a final score of 269, 15-under par, securing a six-shot victory ahead of pal Royal Portrush links. The Derry-based artist Peaball was responsible for the stunning mural of Lowry lifting the Claret Jug in front of the home crowd on 18. His victory will be relived in a new 'This is Open Country' will feature some of the greatest players from the Emerald Isle, celebrating its legacy with the Claret Jug . weight in golf in all majors but when it comes to record is nothing short of remarkable. Now, a new one-hour documentary titled This is Open Country will map out the island's astonishing success at The Open. The documentary is produced by award-winning Irish filmmakers for Golf Channel in association with the R&A and Tourism Ireland. The film will feature rare interviews with McIlroy, Lowry, Harrington and Clarke, who will all appear together on camera. Premiering July 10th on Sky Sports Golf, the documentary comes just ahead of the Open at Royal Portrush.
The Irish Sun
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I ditched Dublin to move 10 minutes from Marbella, weekly shop is cheaper & I'll never leave Spain over key difference
HAVE you ever enjoyed your summer holidays so much you wished you could stay forever? That's exactly what Dubliner Sophie Lyons Wilson's family did when she was just nine - and now a mum herself, she's positive she won't be leaving her beloved new home in Spain. 6 Sophie, pictured above with her family, reckons her kids have a better quality of life in Spain 6 Both parents are fluent in Spanish and share their experience of living abroad on TikTok 6 Sophie first moved over to Spain as a child and knew she wanted to raise her own kids there Sophie, 23, says her parents decided to make the move in 2010 after they realised the family was "so much happier" when on their She told the Irish Sun: "We were much happier over here, the days felt brighter and we seemed to have more time. "When we came over it was such a time for friends and family, we were together and we just knew that life would stay like that when we moved over here." And once she met her partner Dylan, they knew Spain was where they wanted to raise their daughter, five, and one-year-old son. The mum-of-two, originally from Living just a 10 minute drive from stunning Marbella, Sophie and her kids enjoy countless beach days and hours spent having fun in playgrounds and activities. Sophie said: "100 per cent there is a huge difference of the quality of life for us since moving. "Just for my kids and all, they seem to grow up a little bit slower over here and that is one of my favourite things. "There is a lot of pressure for kids to start drinking young, smoking and partying. "Whereas over here you still see 14-year-olds in playgrounds and that is one of my favourite things about it, I like that my kids just stay kids a little while longer." 'I would never go back' Dublin Mum moved Spain for better life has free medical care & less societal pressure on kids Sophie shares her experiences on her TikTok account - Sophie and Dylan both speak Spanish - with Dylan, who was born in Spain to Northern Irish parents, running a bar for work. When it comes to costs, Sophie said despite a rise in prices since the She said: "For us, we are a family of four and the weekly shop averages between €100 to €250 a week. 6 From zoos to beaches, the family are never short of things to do 6 Their days are filled with activities in beautiful sunshine "It used to be a lot cheaper but then Covid hit and there's been a small increase but it's still so much cheaper than back home." The family rent a two-bedroom apartment for €1,200 a month, with Sophie admitting rent can be an issue in the area. However she still reckons it is better value than And paired with the stellar quality of life, Sophie says she'll "never leave". EASY DECISION She explained: "Just for the quality of life here, playgrounds open till 8pm, sky is brighter, my weekends are packed full of activities with beaches, pools and zoos. "And with rent, the prices back home I'd probably never leave And praising healthcare in Spain, Sophie said: "Once you have a job over here the healthcare is free and I couldn't fault it. "We also had private health insurance, for the four of us I pay €170 a month and that's full coverage. "I had both of my babies via C-section and they cover everything, if we ever need surgery, honestly I feel like it's the best money I could spend." Primary and secondary public schools are free in the region, with Sophie's daughter still in creche costing the family €300 a month. Sophie said: "We had a private nursery for my daughter and it cost €300 a month and that was for her to be there from 9-5. "With her there five full days a week, you can't even compare it back home." But they are challenges too, one being the loneliness. MISSING HOME Sophie explained: "You take for granted living close to your relatives. "And we were so close to our family, we would see them at least three or four times a week, so to come here not speak a word of the language and only have each other was quite lonely. "Friends that we made, they come and go here as they move over for a few years and then they might move back home. "So we would lose a lot of friends over the years, which created the lonely side of things." But she has since learned the language and immersed herself in the culture, calling locals her "second family". And Sophie is not alone among Irish people who've taken the plunge to make Spain their forever home, as And it's a case of work imitating life, as the Spain expert now runs her own compan y to assist other expats who are planning to relocate to the sun. 6 Sophie has no plans to return home to dreary Dublin
The Irish Sun
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Top Brit singer announces secret Glastonbury set TODAY after huge hit with Sam Fender
A TOP Brit singer has announced a secret set at Glastonbury today - after a huge hit with Sam Fender. The famous festival kicked off on Wednesday with a whole host of names on the bill including Rod Stewart, Olivia Rodrigo and Advertisement 5 A top Brit singer has revealed they are playing Glastonbury today 5 Olivia Dean shared a snap from Worthy Farm to her Instagram on Friday 5 The 26-year-old has released an album and five EPs Credit: Getty Music fans have been eagerly awaiting which surprise acts will take to one of the many stages at Worthy Farm. Earlier on Friday, Lorde was revealed to be doing a surprise set, but it Meanwhile on Instagram, singer Olivia Dean revealed she was back at the festival and would be performing at 3pm at the Strummerville area. Olivia, 26, posed on a classic white car at the top of the hill with the sprawling site behind her. Advertisement Read More on Glastonbury She wore a flowing black dress and tan knee-high boots and a pair of stylish sunglasses. She then shared a snap of crowd around a piano in one of the tents. Olivia will be bringing her neo soul sound to Worthy Farm, having release her first album - Messy - in 2023. She has also produced five EPs and was selected as BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year. Advertisement Most read in Music Olivia also won a legion of fans after teaming up with Meanwhile, fans reckon a Glastonbury chaos as bosses are forced to SHUT part of festival as Lorde performs surprise set Writing online, fans have suggested Northern Irish DJ Calibre could be performing a secret set. It comes as the star- real name Dominick Martin - shared a cryptic post on Instagram. Advertisement Calibre posted a short reel, which had the text: "Glastonbury Sets - Thursday - 9.30pm to 11pm Glade Dome. "Friday - 1.45am to 3am - Silver Hayes Level. Saturday - 9pm to 10.30pm", accompanying the last one with a "shush" emoji. 5 She teamed up with Sam Fender on a track this year Credit: Getty 5 Olivia is known for her neo soul sound Credit: Getty Advertisement Glastonbury will be airing on BBC One, BBC Two and iPlayer across the weekend.
The Journal
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Journal
Glastonbury 2025: Who's headlining, what Irish acts are playing, and where to watch
THE GATES ARE open, the music has started and thousands of flimsy, coffin-sized tents have gone up – Glastonbury has officially kicked off. It's once again a jam-packed lineup this year, with over 3,000 performances scheduled across dozens of stages – including a whopping 33 Irish (and Northern Irish) acts. Who is headlining this year? Glastonbury Festival's gates opened on Wednesday, with the full music schedule set to kick off in force tonight. Headliners for the weekend include British pop-rock band The 1975, rock legend Neil Young, US pop-punk star Olivia Rodrigo, and national treasure Rod Stewart, who returns to the festival for the first time in 23 years to fill the iconic Sunday 'legend slot'. Olivia Rodrigo, Neil Young, Rod Stewart and the 1975. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo But the headliners are just the beginning. The line-up also features major names like Charli XCX, Wolf Alice, The Libertines, Wet Leg, Biffy Clyro, Franz Ferdinand, The Prodigy and Scissor Sisters. Throwback sets from the Kaiser Chiefs, Rizzle Kicks and En Vogue promise a hit of nostalgia, while debut performances by Alanis Morissette, Noah Kahan, Gracie Abrams, Lola Young and Doechii bring fresh energy to the fields of Worthy Farm. Rumours are also swirling about secret sets from Lewis Capaldi, and Pulp—each marked as 'TBA' on the festival schedule, the same as Lorde (who did indeed host a secret set today). Which Irish acts are playing at Glastonbury? 33 bands, musicians and DJs from the island of Ireland will be performing at Glastonbury this week, including some well-known stars. You've likely heard the news that Kneecap are performing, in spite of vocal opposition from the powers-that-be in the UK (Labour and the Conservatives). Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The Belfast rap trio will play at the West Holts stage on Saturday at 4pm. Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, globally known as CMAT, will grace the main stage (the pyramid stage) this afternoon at 1.30pm. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Tomorrow, the Script will also play main stage at 3pm. Other Irish acts to watch out for are Annie Mac, DJ extraordinaire who will play at the Arcadia stage at 1pm tomorrow, Dublin-based punk band Sprints (Woodsies stage at 2pm) and popular singer-songwriter Orla Gartland (Avalon stage at 6.35pm tonight). Here's the schedule for some other Irish acts: Friday Inhaler: 2.15pm–3.15pm (Other Stage) Gurriers: 5.05pm–5.40pm (Leftfield Stage) Ash: 5.05pm–6.05pm (Avalon Stage) Max Cooper: 10.50pm–11.50pm (Arcardia Stage) Advertisement Saturday Lorraine Nash: 12.10pm–12.40pm (Acoustic Stage) Oisin Leech: 1pm–1.40pm (Acoustic Stage) Liam O'Maonlai (Not Completely Unknown a celebration of the songs of Bob Dylan): 3pm–4pm (Acoustic Stage) The Coronas: 5.10pm–6pm (Acoustic Stage) Sunday Dea Matrona: 11.25am–12.05pm (Avalon Stage) The Henry Girls: 1pm–1.40pm (Acoustic Stage) The Riptide Movement: 3pm–3.40pm (Acoustic Stage) Can I watch Glastonbury in Ireland? Yes – though your viewing will be somewhat limited. Still, there's arguably no better weekend for music on TV than during Glastonbury. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo With sweeping crane shots capturing every moment, you actually get a clear view of the action—no muddy crowds or distant stages. And instead of trekking miles across Worthy Farm to chase overlapping sets, you can stay planted on the couch, turn up the volume, and enjoy it all on record. While Irish viewers will miss out on the full expreience on the BBC iPlayer, it's not all bad, as the festival will feature across three BBC television channels (BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Four) during the day. Plus, the BBC's Glastonbury YouTube channel will also allow you to catch up with the day's heaviest hitters. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo BBC One offers a curated slice of Glastonbury this weekend, with The 1975 on Friday, Raye and Charli XCX on Saturday, and Olivia Rodrigo on Sunday, preceded by Rod Stewart in the afternoon. For broader daily highlights, BBC Two is your go-to, with a round-up show that's basically Match of the Day with glitter and wellies. Prefer your music a little more indie or alternative? BBC Four has you covered all weekend with acts like Franz Ferdinand, Wunderhorse, Amyl and the Sniffers, Beth Gibbons, St Vincent and Snow Patrol. And for the electro faithful, The Prodigy's Sunday night set will also air there. Despite the extensive list of Irish acts at Glastonbury this year, BBC's schedule sadly appears to show that no Irish acts will make the TV cut this year – it's not just Kneecap, though there's still question marks around that. 'Whilst the BBC doesn't ban artists, our plans will ensure that our programming will meet our editorial guidelines,' the British broacaster said, when asked whether Kneecap's set would be broadcast live or as part of the BBC's catchup services. 'Decisions about our output will be made in the lead up to the festival.' UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch are among the objectors to Kneecap's highly-anticipated performance at the festival. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
