President Michael D. Higgins is among those to have paid tribute to the father of Kneecap's Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Móglaí Bap) - Gearóid Ó Cairealláin.

The 67-year-old's death was announced on December 21, just hours before the hip-hop trio took the stage for the biggest-ever Irish language show in Belfast's history at the SSE Arena.

Gearóid Ó Cairealláin was hailed by President Higgins as a "major figure in the Irish language movement", for his role as President of Conradh na Gaeilge - a socio-cultural group responsible for promoting the Irish language at home and abroad -  from 1995 to 1998.

Ó Cairealláin was also involved in a number of projects promoting the Irish language in his native Belfast, including the first daily Irish language newspaper Preas an Phobail, as well as Raidió Fáilte, Aisling Ghéar, Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich and Meánscoil Feirste - an Irish-speaking secondary school in the west of the city.

 

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“A major figure in the Irish language movement, Gearóid Ó Cairealláin death is a great loss for all those who work for the use of the Irish language: its rights, its literature, and its place in the daily life of people," President Higgins' statement read.

“He served as president of Conradh na Gaeilge, but his contribution was much wider than that.

“Sabina and I send our sympathy to his family, including his sons Ainle, Cairbre and Naoise.”

Kneecap described Ó Cairealláin as “an Irish language revolutionary, community activist, loving father, husband and an inspiration to many”, on social media, having also payed him an emotional tribute during their sold-out hometown gig on Friday (Dec 21) evening.

 

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