Yahoo News Kneecap donate court win cash to community groups to support good relations and Irish language
Kneecap is donating £14,250 it won in a court fight against the UK Government to community groups in the Shankill and Ballymurphy "to create a better future for our young people".
According to the Belfast trio, £7,125 will go to ‘Glór Na Móna’ in Ballymurphy while £7,125 will go to ‘RCity Belfast’ on the Shankill Road.
Megan Hamilton from R-City Youth told Belfast Live they welcome the funding as "it will continue supporting the good relations work that we offer young people across Belfast" as well as their Christmas social programmes and taking 18 of their young people to South Africa.
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Conchúr Ó Muadaigh from Glór Committee said the donation "will go a long way in supporting" their plans for flagship Irish-medium capital project Croí na Carraige to "future-proof the Irish language revival and ensure a new generation of Gaels like our very own Liam Óg ‘Mo Chara’ Ó hAnnaidh".
Irish language group Kneecap took legal action against the UK Government over claims former Business Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, had blocked a £14,250 grant to the band because of their political views.
Belfast High Court judge, Mr Justice Scoffield, ruled on Friday the decision had been 'unlawful' and ordered a Westminster department to pay them £14,250. The Irish language trio announced outside court that they would be donating the money to the two community groups.
They said in a statement: "Unsurprisingly the British government's own courts ruled that they acted illegally in stopping funding to Kneecap… Today we will send the full amount awarded to two youth organisations in Belfast who work with the two communities to create a better future for our young people. £7,125 will go to ‘Glór Na Móna’ in Ballymurphy and £7,125 will go to ‘RCity Belfast’ on the Shankill Road."
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Megan Hamilton from R City said their donation "will go towards supporting the ongoing good relations work we do within the project and the young people involved".
They added: "It will help with resourcing some of our Christmas social action programmes that we will be running over December that the young people will plan and deliver in their communities. Lastly, it is going to support the international programme we have going to South Africa this February where 18 young people will travel to South Africa to globally have an impact on a variety of communities while in SA."
Conchúr Ó Muadaigh from Glór Committee said: "On behalf of everyone at Glór na Móna we want to say a huge Go raibh míle maith agaibh to Kneecap for your incredibly generous donation. This donation will go a long way in supporting our ambitious plans for the future and our flagship Irish-medium capital project Croí na Carraige which we are currently fundraising for at present.
"This new facility in the heart of Ballymurphy in West Belfast will future-proof the Irish language revival and ensure a new generation of Gaels like our very own Liam Óg ‘Mo Chara’ Ó hAnnaidh - who attended and worked in our youth club - have access to the highest standard of youth and community facility through the medium of our native Irish language.
"Your support will have a lasting impact on our work with young people and the Irish language revival here in West Belfast."
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