Irish President Catherine Connolly is facing criticism for greeting Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin) of the Belfast rap trio Kneecap, which has frequently been accused of anti-Semitism and banned from playing in several countries.
Yesterday, Bap joined a 10km charity run in support of Palestine and was personally greeted by the far-left Irish President, who has called Israel “a genocidal state”.
Kneecap has been criticised over their explicit anti-Israel lyrics, mockery of security forces and unapologetic backing of the Palestinian cause, triggering concert bans, funding disputes and divided public opinion
Yesterday’s run was organised to raise funds for the Gaza Food and Play Project, which provides food parcels and psychosocial support to displaced families and children in Gaza.
It started at Dalymount Park, home of Bohemian FC, a football club which supports Palestinian activists.
Despite persistent rain, more than 200 participants turned out, many waving Palestinian flags, donning Bohemians jerseys and repeatedly chanting “Free Palestine” as passing drivers honked their horns in support.
As the group passed Áras an Uachtaráin, President Connolly, an avid runner herself, emerged at a gap in the hedge surrounding the grounds to encourage the participants.
Speaking in Irish to Bap, she urged him to “keep going”, prompting thumbs-up gestures and cheers from runners, who paused briefly for selfies across the boundary.
Bap later posted on social media: “Was great to meet ‘El Presidente’ today.”
After the run, participants gathered at Bang Bang café in Phibsborough — co-owned by Bohemians’ executive Daniel Lambert, who also manages Kneecap. There, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg joined them briefly before proceeding to a separate courtesy audience with President Connolly at the Áras an Uachtaráin, the President’s official residence.
Thunberg has faced repeated detentions by Israeli forces during Gaza aid flotillas and has drawn widespread criticism for her sharp denunciations of Israel’s actions in Gaza, including accusations of “brutality” and calls to “mobilise and escalate” pro-Palestinian efforts shortly after recent antisemitic incidents.
Yesterday at the Áras, she discussed her activism on climate and Gaza humanitarian issues during the closed meeting.
The day’s events aligned with Kneecap’s second sold-out concert at Dublin’s 3Arena and preceded Thunberg’s appearance this evening at a Bohemians-hosted Gaza solidarity fundraiser at Dalymount Park, featuring discussions on flotillas and aid efforts.
Thunberg’s presidential visit sparked an immediate backlash from Irish Jewish organisations, including the Irish Jewish Representative Council. It described it as “deeply unsettling” and “troubling” given Thunberg’s recent rhetoric following an anti-Semitic attack, arguing it undermined unity and heightened community concerns amid rising anti-Semitism.
Critics, including former justice minister Alan Shatter, labelled the engagement “deeply disturbing”, highlighting what he said was the polarising convergence of high-profile anti-Israel activism with official Irish State interactions.
Deeply disturbing that President Connolly reportedly hosted Greta Thunberg who is visiting Ireland to speak at a Daniel Lambert/ Irish Sport for Palestine event scheduled to be held in Bohemians ground at Dalymount Park. Irish Sport for Palestine advocates the elimination of the…
— Alan Shatter (@Alan__Shatter) December 17, 2025
