Irish Nationalist Anticolonialism: Kneecap, Language Revival, and Palestinian Solidarity

<p class="p1">This thesis examines the history, evolution, and ongoing relevance of the Irish nationalist movement in the North of Ireland from the early twentieth century to the present. It analyzes how the Irish-language rap group Kneecap draws on the political and theoretical frameworks of left-wing Irish nationalism to advocate for Irish unification alongside other decolonial liberation movements. The thesis argues that Kneecap has made a significant contribution to the contemporary Irish language revival across sectarian lines, advancing the left-wing nationalist movement toward its goal of a multicultural, non-sectarian united Ireland. It further demonstrates that Kneecap&rsquo;s political action and advocacy are motivated by an anticolonial worldview rooted in their upbringing in nationalist West Belfast and a broader commitment to global struggles against oppression. Kneecap expresses this worldview through a commitment to Irish language reclamation as a crucial step toward Irish decolonization and unification, as well as through sustained solidarity with Palestine on the global stage.