Kneecap praise Cork TD's call for all-Ireland presidential vote ahead of Glastonbury appearance

The world's most controversial rap band, Belfast Irish speaking trio Kneecap have posted praise for Cork North Central TD Thomas Gould on their social media platforms as they shared a video of the Sinn Féin TD calling for votes for Irish citizens north of the border in the forthcoming Presidential election.

In advance of their appearance today by Kneecap at the Glastonbury Festival, which faced calls to drop them from UK PM Keir Starmer, the Belfast band shared a video of Mr Gould's Dáil speech on the Sinn Féin's successful motion during the week.   

Despite passing, however, the motion is unlikely to lead to the extension of the vote to Irish citizens north of the border in time for the November poll. 

Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Gould accused the Government of playing politics and said it was shocking that they were not extending the vote to Northerners. "The three young men in Kneecap have championed our language, people and culture in a positive way on a global scale," he said. 

"In November, however, they will not be able to vote in the presidential election. How is that right? A person on the Falls Road wearing an Antrim jersey and with a hurley in hand is as Irish as a young man or girl in Cork wearing a Cork jersey and with a hurley in hand."

Since sharing the video of Mr Gould's speech, it has been viewed 153,000 times by the band's fans.    

In their post published on Wednesday, Kneecap said: "This was the scene in the Irish Parliament today. Bulaí fír! (good on you!) @ThomasGouldSF".  

The band also expressed criticism of UK prime minister Keir Starmer and the leader of the UK Conservatives in the same post. 

Mr Starmer has called for Glastonbury to rescind its invitation to perform to Kneecap, deeming it 'inappropriate', a call which met with widespread criticism. 

Mike Scott of The Waterboys, speaking to The Echo's Downtown magazine this week, said that the UK Prime Minister's call was itself inappropriate. 

Kneecap will appear on the Glastonbury West Holts stage at 4pm today.