Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh
{{Short description|Irish rapper, actor, and activist; member of hip hop group Kneecap}}
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{{merge to|Kneecap (band)|discuss=Talk:Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh#Merge Proposal|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh
| image =
| birth_date = 16 October 1997
| birth_place = Belfast, Northern Ireland
| nationality =
| other_names = Mo Chara
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|actor|activist}}
| known_for = Kneecap
}}
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (born 16 October 1997), better known by his stage name Mo Chara, is an Irish rapper, actor, and activist from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is a founding member of the hip hop group Kneecap, which raps in both Irish and English and is known for its provocative lyrics, political activism, and support for the Irish language.{{Cite news|title=Kneecap: Terror charge is 'carnival of distraction' and 'political policing'|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41636953.html|work=Irish Examiner|date=2025-05-22|access-date=2025-05-22}}{{Cite web|title=Acting the Maggot – Critic's Notebook|url=https://www.criticsnotebook.com/2024/02/kneecap-movie-review-liam-%C3%B3g-%C3%B3-hannaidh-naois-%C3%B3-caireall%C3%A1in-jj-%C3%B3-dochartaigh-michael-fassbender-rich-peppiatt-sundance-f.html|website=Critics Notebook|date=2024-02-01|access-date=2025-05-22}} In 2025, he was charged in the UK with a terrorism offense for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a concert.{{Cite news|title=Kneecap rapper charged with terrorism offence over alleged Hezbollah flag at London gig|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/may/21/kneecaps-liam-ohanna-charged-after-allegedly-displaying-pro-hezbollah-flag-at-gig|work=The Guardian|date=2025-05-21|access-date=2025-05-29}}
Career
= Kneecap =
Ó hAnnaidh co-founded Kneecap in 2017 with Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Móglaí Bap) and JJ Ó Dochartaigh (DJ Próvaí). The group quickly gained notoriety for their energetic performances, satirical and politically charged lyrics, and unapologetic embrace of Irish republican and working-class Belfast youth culture. Their debut single "C.E.A.R.T.A." was released in 2017, followed by the album 3CAG (2018) and Fine Art (2024), both of which received critical acclaim.{{cite magazine |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=20 February 2024 |title=Kneecap Want to Piss Off the World — And Unite It |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kneecap-irish-rap-debut-album-interview-1234966880/ |access-date=21 November 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |publisher= |location=}}{{cite news |date=2024-06-06 |title=Kneecap movie trailer released ahead of UK premiere in London |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/kneecap-movie-trailer-released-ahead-of-uk-premiere-in-london/a1231706384.html |access-date=2024-06-18 |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |language=en-GB}}
Kneecap's music addresses themes such as Irish language rights, anti-colonialism, class, and the legacy of the Troubles, often using humour and irony. The group is also outspokenly anti-Zionist and has been at the centre of public debates about free speech and political expression in Ireland and the UK.
= Acting =
Ó hAnnaidh starred as a fictionalised version of himself in the film Kneecap (2024), a comedy-drama directed by Rich Peppiatt that depicts the group's rise and the cultural and political context of contemporary Belfast. The film, which also features Michael Fassbender, won several awards and was praised for its authenticity, humour, and social commentary.{{Cite news |last=Ide |first=Wendy |date=2024-08-24 |title=Kneecap review – fictionalised origin story is one of the funniest films of the year |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/aug/24/kneecap-review-one-of-the-funniest-films-of-the-year-rich-peppiatt-michael-fassbender-belfast |access-date=2025-05-30 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
Political activism and legal issues
Ó hAnnaidh and Kneecap are known for their activism in support of the Irish language as well as their criticism of British government policies in Northern Ireland.
He is also known for his outspoken support for Palestinian nationalism and Palestinian rights and against the United Kingdom's alleged complicity on what he considers to be a genocide of Palestinians. In May 2025, Ó hAnnaidh was charged in the UK with a terrorism-related offense for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London, a charge he and the group described as “political policing” and an attempt to silence dissent.{{cite news |date=29 April 2025 |title=Kneecap apologise to families of murdered MPs over 'dead Tory' comments |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/apr/29/kneecap-apologise-to-families-of-murdered-mps-over-dead-tory-comments |work=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |date=21 May 2025 |title=UK police charge Kneecap's 'Mo Chara' with terrorism offence |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/0521/1514213-kneecap/ |website=RTÉ}}{{Cite web |date=2025-05-21 |title=Kneecap member charged with terror offence |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2qq2n3800o |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
Personal life
Ó hAnnaidh grew up in West Belfast, an area with a strong Irish-language revival movement and a history of political activism. He is fluent in Irish and is regarded as a prominent figure in the contemporary Irish-language music scene.
Discography
See: Kneecap discography
Filmography
- Kneecap (2024) – as himself