Irish language rappers Kneecap have said they have been “banned” from selling some of their merchandise at the SSE Arena where they are appearing this weekend.
The trio from west Belfast took to social media to claim some of their controversial ‘merch’ – including items featuring a burning police Land Rover and the slogan ‘RUC not welcome’ in Irish – will not be sold at the Belfast arena on Saturday.
They said that instead the band will be launching a pop-up shop near the former Belfast Telegraph building.
“The RUC have “banned” us from selling some of our merch at the venue so we will have a pop-up merch spot at the Telegraph building that day selling the burning landrover T-shirts and Bally’s (balaclavas),” they said.
Kneecap sell a balaclava in the colours of the Irish tricolour – the same as one worn by their member DJ Provai.
The PSNI confirmed to the Belfast Telegraph it has has “no policing involvement” and the SSE Arena has been contacted for comment.
The SSE Arena has been asked for a response.
Read more
Kneecap are currently on their Irish tour to promote their album Fine Art, with one show in Belfast. They are due to perform tomorrow evening in Cork.
The gig comes after the announcement that a film based on the group’s beginnings may be headed to the Academy Awards.
Kneecap (the film), which was released in August, is based on the group’s rise and stars Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh as themselves.
Filmed entirely in Northern Ireland, it also features Oscar-nominee Michael Fassbender, who plays Naoise’s father Arlo Ó Cairealláin. It’s directed by former journalist Rich Peppiatt and produced by Trevor Birney.
Kneecap was shortlisted for Best International Feature Film and Best Original Song for ‘Sick In The Head’ for the upcoming 97th Oscars ceremony.
While it doesn’t mean the film is guaranteed to secure the nominations when the official list is finalised in January, it means the film is in the running for two of Hollywood’s biggest awards.
The film was previously snubbed at the Golden Globes, where it missed out on a nomination on Best International Film despite being widely expected to secure a spot on the list.