Kneecap visit Portadown to support Garvaghy Road residents

The Belfast‑based rap trio Kneecap visited Portadown on Sunday to show solidarity with residents of Garvaghy Road amid the ongoing Drumcree parade dispute.

Members Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Próvaí – Naoise Ó Cairealláin, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh and JJ Ó Dochartaich – first stopped at a local school before proceeding to the Drumcree Community Centre, where they were greeted by a crowd of fans of all ages.

Visit amid legal battle

Spokesperson Breandán Mac Cionnaith led the musicians up Garvaghy Road, while volunteer stewards tried to keep supporters off the road to allow traffic to move. Hundreds had lined the street, but a stage previously used for speeches was covered and the trio did not perform or address the crowd.

After a brief stop in a tent at the junction to Drumcree Parish church – the planned starting point for the Orange Order march – Kneecap left by car, accompanied by solicitor Darragh Mackin, manager Daniel Lambert and folk singer Radie Peat.

The visit coincided with the launch of a fresh legal challenge by residents, eight days after a loyalist march was blocked. Police confirmed the protest was unnotified and therefore unlawful, while political figures including Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O’Neill took part in the stand‑off.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Sima Ghaffarzadeh / Pexels.