Cork bishop says questions posed by Kneecap are ‘difficult to ignore'

The questions about language, tradition and identity being asked by Belfast rap trio Kneecap have been described as “difficult to ignore” by the Bishop of Cloyne William Crean, during a religious event to mark the birthday of Irish composer Seán Ó Riada held in Cúil Aodha on Sunday.

Bishop Crean was addressing the last event of Féile na Laoch in Séipéal Ghobnatan in Cúil Aodha, an event entitled Dóchas – Solas Chríost/Hope, the light of Christ.

Part of the purpose of the event was to explore what communities could do when gathered together spiritually to “affirm their spiritual life” at a time when vocations to the priesthood had been in decline for several years and an aging cohort of serving priests.

According to a copy of his remarks provided to The Echo by the Diocescan office, Bishop Crean spoke about the gathering and set it in context by suggesting it was “to make connection between the spiritual well of tradition and our desire to imagine how it will continue to speak to our heart, our lives in the evolution of community and culture”.

He went on to refer to “Kneecap, the young Belfast trio” which has “ruffled some feathers” and said their “youthful intelligent exuberance” was a lesson from which people in church communities could learn.

“Whether you agree or disapprove, we find it difficult to ignore the questions they are asking – questions about language, tradition and identity,” said Bishop Crean.

“Their stance is an eruption that could not be contained.

“Cultural tectonic movement has been taking place over quite some time facilitated by the nurturing of the language – the lens and sensibility through which they view the world.

“This eruption is fuelled by the cherishing of tradition while risking innovation and imagination of a new future.

“Such youthful intelligent insightful exuberance is a lesson we in church communities can learn from; whereby we can be confident that the richness of tradition remains the well of inspiration for our exploration of new patterns of gathering in prayer.”

Bishop Crean made no reference during his remarks to the Belfast group’s stance against the Israeli onslaught on Gaza. This stance has led to one of the band members, Mo Chara, facing a charge under British anti-terrorism legislation.