A Kneecap concert at Templemore Sports Complex has finally been approved by Derry City and Strabane District Council after opposition from unionists to a previous venue.
The concert was initially set to take place on November 2 at St Columb’s Park in the Waterside, but was postponed due to objections from the unionist community.
It will now take place at the new venue on Saturday, November 23.
The Belfast Telegraph previously revealed that during a private meeting in the Guildhall unionist councillors objected to the event taking place in the Waterside.
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At a special meeting of the council’s Health and Community Committee meeting on Wednesday, November 7, members approved the entertainment licence to hold the concert, as well as approving a five-day licence for the gravel pitch at Templemore to allow for the erection and removal of a 4,500-capacity tent, with a licence fee of £1,650.
SDLP councillor Brian Tierney said the application process had been a “saga that points out the need for a dedicated venue space within the district”.
At a Special Health and Community Committee meeting on Thursday, SDLP councillor Brian Tierney praised an upcoming Kneecap concert as a “good news story” for Derry
“Particularly within the Derry side to hold and be able to cater for a very quick turnaround in terms of music events,” he said.
“Many people are looking forward to having Kneecap playing in our city, and as a Ballyarnett councillor I look forward to them coming to our area.
“I’m very, very disappointed that we’ve had to go through a protracted process, given public commentary by some people around the original application.”
DUP councillor Niree McMorris had voiced objections to the press when the concert was scheduled for St Columb’s Park, but said that her party was “happy enough as long as everything is as it should be and all processes have been followed” during the application process.
Sinn Féin councillor Paul Boggs said it was “absolutely insulting towards council officers” to suggest anything other than the proper process has been followed.
He added: “This has been a protracted process, which could have been cleared up sooner in my view, and we are here today to try and get it over the line so people can enjoy an event.
“For anybody to try and suggest that the process may not have been followed is frankly disgusting and in complete contempt of the due diligence that officers show in this council.”
Mr Tierney concluded by thanking Kneecap and the promoters for “sticking with this process” .
Irish group Kneecap
“Because they could have went somewhere else,” he said.
“This is a good news story for the city, particularly for Ballyarnett, and certain opinions around this concert have had too much airtime.
“I would suggest we concentrate on the good that’s coming out of this meeting and talk about the positives.
“I don’t want to go back and talk about what happened in the past and people’s mistakes, because that’s exactly what they were.”
DUP MLA Gary Middleton had previously strongly objected to the band playing at St Columb’s Park describing it as a “shared space”.
He does not believe it is appropriate for Kneecap to perform there, describing them as a “provocative” and “controversial” group.
The Foyle MLA also accused the trio of glorifying terrorism, drug use and of setting out to “hurt victims of IRA violence”.
In response, Kneecap previously told the Belfast Telegraph: “If we all lived in the world of Mr Middleton, there’d be dinosaurs down at St Columb’s Park.”