Kneecap announce new album ‘Fenian’, motivated by Keir Starmer

Album cover - New Kneecap album Fenian

Irish rap trio Kneecap have announced a new album claiming that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer describing them as terrorists was “all the motivation we needed”.

The group, made up of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, will release their second studio album, titled Fenian, on April 24, after they hit the headlines in 2025 when O hAnnaidh was charged with a terror offence.

The charge, which was eventually dropped in September last year, alleged that Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, had displayed a flag in support of Hezbollah, which is proscribed as a terror organisation by the British government, at a gig at the O2 Forum in London in 2024.

Announcing their new record, Kneecap said: “They tried to stop us by branding Kneecap ‘terrorists’, with cancellations, with statements from the Prime Minister himself.

“We had all the motivation we needed… this isn’t a swift reaction, but a considered response to those that tried to silence us. And failed.

“Inspired by, and proudly named Fenian, who were warriors in Irish folklore, and later a derogatory term for the Irish.

Kneecap at Electric Picnic 2025

“Now we’re using it to name everyone speaking truth to power.

“After 800 years of colonisation, they thought the Irish language would die, it didn’t.

“Thanks to Muintir na Gaeltachta, and all the Gaels who refused to let their culture and language be destroyed, and Kneecap is much the same… we haven’t gone away.

“The Paddies are back.”

Fenian will be released on Heavenly Recordings, with its first single Liars Tale released later today.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is currently appealing against the decision to drop Ó hAnnaidh’s case, which also saw prosecutors allege that the rapper could be heard saying “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” in video footage of the concert.

Kneecap’s performance at last year’s Glastonbury Festival, which saw them chant “f*** Keir Starmer”, also saw them face an investigation by Avon and Somerset Police, which was eventually dropped.