Podcast: The rise of Kneecap and what Cork audiences can expect from their live shows

The podcast looks at Kneecap's rise, their impact, the tension between art and provocation.

The Belfast rap trio Kneecap bring second record Fenian and their incendiary mix of Irish-language hip-hop and politics to Cork with two 'intimate' album launch shows at the Savoy Theatre ahead of a Live at the Marquee show on July 6. 

We take a deep dive into the group’s journey — from their early days in Belfast to becoming one of the most talked-about acts in Irish music. Along the way, we explore how Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí have used the Irish language as both a creative tool and a cultural statement, while also courting controversy through their lyrics, performances, and legal battles. 

On this episode, Irish Examiner assistant news editor Eoghan O'Sullivan fills in for Mick Clifford and is joined by music journalist Dean Van Nguyen, who reviewed Fenian for Pitchfork. He is also the author of Words for My Comrades: A Political History of Tupac Shakur (Penguin Random House, 2025). 

They look at the band’s rise, their impact, the tension between art and provocation — and what Cork audiences can expect from their live shows this summer.