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Irish president and Kneecap gig tributes to language 'pioneer'

PA About 20 people are lined up shoulder to shoulder on a stage - to the right is a member of the rap group Kneecap who is shirtless and holding a microphone. The group are holding a Palestinian flag. On a screen in the background is a picture of Gearóid Ó Cairealláin with his name, date of birth and year of death and the Irish saying which means: 'We will never see his like again.'PA
Kneecap paid tribute to Gearóid Ó Cairealláin - Irish language campaigner and father of group member Móglaí Bap - at their sold-out Belfast gig on Saturday

Irish president Michael D Higgins has paid tribute to a Belfast Irish language campaigner a day after a gig by rap group Kneecap was dedicated to him.

Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, who died on Friday, was described as a pioneer of the city's Irish language movement.

His son Naoise Ó Cairealláin, a member of Kneecap who performs in Irish under the name Móglaí Bap, paid tribute to his late father at the group's sold-out show in Belfast's SSE Arena on Saturday.

On Sunday, President Higgins said Mr Ó Cairealláin, a former president of the Irish language organisation Conradh na Gaeilge, was a "major figure in the Irish language movement".

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"Gearóid Ó Cairealláin's 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," Higgins added.

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

Máire Nic Fhionnachtaigh, a long time friend and fellow Irish language activist, said Mr Ó Cairealláin was a "strategic thinker who didn't shy away from hard work".

"He was a visionary, revolutionary and fearless advocate for the promotion of the Irish languages," she told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster.

Ms Nic Fhionnachtaigh said Mr Ó Cairealláin's legacy lived on through the projects he worked on, including his son Naoise's band Kneecap.

"He supported everything that promoted the Irish language," she added.

Claire Hanna, SDLP Leader and MP for South Belfas, said: "My deepest sympathy to Bríd and the entire family on the news of the death of Gearoid, who had been living in my constituency (Finaghy) for many years."

Hanna described Ó Cairealláin as clever, energetic, and creative.

She added: "He promoted a vast number of projects to achieve his vision. His death is a loss to the Irish language community and far beyond that."

'Incredible influence and impact'

On Saturday, Kneecap posted on social media that Mr Ó Cairealláin was "an Irish language revolutionary, community activist, loving father, husband and an inspiration to many".

They dedicated their concert that night - described as the "largest Irish language gig in the city's history" - to him.

"Nothing would have made him prouder," they added.

Conradh na Gaeilge said Mr Ó Cairealláin "will be remembered as one of the great leaders and pioneers in the Irish language movement in Belfast".

It said he was a founding member of Irish language station Raidió Fáilte and Meánscoil Feirste, west Belfast's Irish language secondary school.

"There can be no denying the incredible influence and impact Gearóid had on the Irish language movement, not only in Belfast, but throughout the country," said Conradh na Gaeilge president Paula Melvin.

"He leaves behind him an undeniable legacy that will be an immense source of inspiration for us all throughout the future."