Kneecap launch GoFundMe for Irish language community centre

Kneecap have launched a GoFundMe for Glór na Móna, an Irish language youth group and community centre in West Belfast.

Feachtas GoFundMe seolta ag Kneecap d’Áis Óige Ghaeilge in Iarthar Bhéal Feirste‼️

Kneecap launch Go Fund Me campaign for Irish language youth facility in West Belfast‼️

Scéal Iomlán | Full Story👇🏽 1/2 pic.twitter.com/V2ykFzfSAG

— Glór na Móna (@GlorNaMona) February 26, 2025

Glór na Móna, who currently operate out of temporary buildings, raised £1 million (€1.2 million) to construct a permanent community centre, however were £600,000 (roughly €727,000) short of the funds required to begin construction.

The GoFundMe campaign aims to raise £20,000 (about €24,000) towards the project.

"A lot of the government departments in the North are saying they have no money," said Glór na Móna director Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh. "We believe they do have the money, but they're not making us a priority."

Kneecap have already donated £7,200 (roughly €8,700) towards the project, a portion of the funds they won in their landmark discrimination case against the British government.

"I attended this youth club since I was 11 years old," Kneecap's Mo Chara said, in Irish. "I got a paid job here at 16 but I was a volunteer for a long time and I recognised the difference it was making for the language and for the community in West Belfast."

Both Mo Chara and Mac Ionnrachtaigh emphasised that although Irish schools are becoming increasingly popular, outside of the classroom the use of Irish has not risen as dramatically.

"We realised there wasn't enough social spaces for people to use their Irish," Mo Chara said. "So places like Glór na Móna were created and I started volunteering and stuff, and realised that they were doing a lot of great work for the Irish language in West Belfast, so I'd like to give that opportunity to more kids."

Information on Glór na Móna's fundraiser can be found here.