Kneecap delivered a blistering set at Electric Picnic this afternoon, as they took to the main stage at Stradbally for their very first time.
The rain that greeted fans at the opening section of the gig gave way to sunshine as the crowds that had flocked in their thousands to the stage were treated to a band that was in turns fun, defiant, brazen and emotional.
Over the next sixty minutes, the trio rocked their way through their well-honed set, that is filled with crowd favourites including their first song, C.E.A.R.T.A., which was greeted enthusiastically by the crowd.
Get Your Brits Out and The Recap were big crowd pleasers too as the band leapt around the stage willing the crowd to get involved, and at one point DJ Próvaí jumped into the crowd with the cameras showing him being carried along by a sea of delighted fans.
The band joked about Mo Chara being a "free man" in relation to the case in the UK where Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Mo Chara, is facing a charge of a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a gig last November. The crowd joined in singing "Free Mo Chara" too. (The case has been postponed until 26 September.)
Among those enjoying the performance were Lewis Capaldi and Danny O'Reilly, who were spotted in the crowd watching the set.
"This next song is my granny's favourite," Mo Chara said at another stage as they broke into a raucous version of The Auld Triangle which the crowd lapped up, singing along with every word.
The band members hopped from topic to topic during their links, addressing their familiar themes. They talked about their ongoing support for the people of Palestine, with Mo Chara telling the crowd that "I understand that we are all here enjoying ourselves, but our brothers and sisters in Palestine are under tremendous f***ing pressure right now".
Their links between songs ranged from political, mentioning how "we have been banned from the country of Hungary for three years" to crowd pleasers, as Móglaí Bap said that the crowd was "watching very hungover boys after our gig in Belfast last night," where they had played along with Fontaines DC.
The gig was clearly an important marker for them.
The band talked about the importance of being back at EP and how it was "nice to be home." Thanking Melvin Benn, the festival director, for his ongoing support through the years of their connection with Electric Picnic, Mo Chara explained how Kneecap had been "at the Puball Gaeilge tent with about 60 people" years ago, adding "and now we are, on the main stage," to massive cheers.
Watch: Fans react to Kneecap at Electric Picnic
"We weren’t on the radios, we weren’t on the TV and the only reason that we are here on the main stage at EP is because of all you Fenian b*******," Móglaí Bap roared at the appreciative crowd, before ordering everyone to "get up on somebody’s shoulders."
So what did the crowd make of it?
"I saw them back in 2022 in Body and Soul and there were about 10 of us there so it’s amazing to see how they’ve grown since," Louise said after the gig as herself and her friend Rosie, both from Kildare, agreed that it was a great gig.
For Ella from Galway and her pal Marie from West Cork, they both said it was amazing and Ella said that she felt "empowered" after the gig.
"We started Kneecap, rapping in Irish, and we didn’t think it was possible and nobody else thought it would be possible to have this many people interested in what we are doing, so I want to thank you all for supporting us," Mo Chara told the crowd to wild cheers.
For Kneecap, this gig marked a red-letter day that will stay with them as much as it will with their wildly enthusiastic fans.
Kneecap at Electric Picnic - here's what you missed
