Christy Moore, Fionnula Flanagan, Damien Dempsey, Liam Cunningham, Aidan Gillen, Andrew Hendy of the Mary Wallopers, all were part of the long list of adoring fans at the Kneecap Dublin premiere last night.

"Everything has gone a bit bland, same as in music," Moglaí Bap, one third of KNEECAP tells me.

He explains: "Music has gone a bit bland. Everyone is trying to make music and movies that suit the mainstream, but I think that this movie, similar to our music, hits a different mark – and that’s why people are excited by it.”

Indeed, rather than rocking up in the usual tinted window limousine, KNEECAP turned up to the premiere of their critically acclaimed biopic in their iconic battered Land Rover, jumping out, standing on the hood of the vehicle and unfurling a huge Palestinian flag.

KNEECAP at the Dublin premiere of Kneecap at the Lighthouse cinema 07/08/2024. Photo: Miguel Ruiz

It's certainly more brazen than bland – and this distinct sensibility is what the brand attribute the film's success to. Somehow by being so specific, Kneecap has become universal.

DJ Provaí says: "Something we need to remember, it’s not just a film about the Irish language. It’s about indigenous cultures and indigenous languages around the world. People are starting to look into their own culture and their own languages and be proud of them and learning them.

"That’s probably the best thing that has happened through the whole thing we can take away from this. It’s resonating with people from all around the world."

Acknowledging some of the famous faces at the red carpet, the Balaclava clad DJ adds: "It seems to be landing massively at the minute. This is kind of a testament. If you look right here, you see all these people coming out. Christy Moore is right here, Damien Dempsey, Stephen Rea – it’s something we could never have imagined."

Damien Dempsey at the Dublin Kneecap Premiere at Lighthouse Cinema

Dempsey is one of the many excited fans eager to see the film. "I think they are three very important artists," he says. "Everybody wants to speak Irish because of them. Their politics, their rhythm, their flow, their poetry, everything."

The Dublin working class hero explains that he's among the many who've been inspired to learn Irish as a result of the group. "It’s something that hasn't been done before," he says of their music. "I am actually going to Donegal now to learn Irish because of them."

Irish People Have Short Memories

As much as the premiere was an opportunity to show off the best of Belfast, the recent news of racially-incited violence against minorities cast a shadow over some of the festivities.

"I think Irish people have a short memory and seem to fucking forget that we were on the other side of that at one point", Mo Chara says.

"And now they are running around wrecking businesses of people coming here, not even just refugees but people who have come here for a better life, for something fucking different.

"People who are contributing to society," he continues, "paying taxes. And the people causing damage are creating more difficulties for the rest of us than these people who are opening restaurants and trying to contribute to our society."

DJ Provaí speaks about the group's upcoming mural unveiling on Friday. "There are anti-fascist marches happening at 4 o'clock," he explains, "so we brought the unveiling of the mural outside the Hawthorne Bar forward to half two. It’s a free Palestine Mural.

"Anybody who’s there, come to that and then we are going to the anti-fascist march afterwards".

Cats of the Kneecap film at the Dublin Premiere at Lighthouse Cinema 07/08/2024

Wee Niche

The recent violence acknowledged, there was an air of jubilation at the Kneecap premiere, with Simone Kirby saying: "Kneecap has got a lot of heart in it as well, and a message about culture and identity and I don’t think people were expected to be so moved by it.

"It’s great fun, it’s got a kicking soundtrack, but it’s also quite moving," she added. "If you know anything about the band - it’s that multiplied."

Mo Chara thinks that film's success is down to something else: “Because people are easily pleased. Yeah everybody loves a wee niche."

Said with a smile, of course...

• Kneecap is out in Irish cinemas now