Kneecap release short film 'Irish Goodbye' featuring Kae Tempest in tribute to member's mother lost to suicide

Key facts

• Kneecap released a 12-minute short film 'Irish Goodbye' on April 30, 2025.
• The film features spoken word artist Kae Tempest and actors Liam Cunningham and Deirdre O'Kane.
• The song 'Irish Goodbye' is written by Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin) about his mother Aoife Ní Riain, who died by suicide in 2020.
• Aoife Ní Riain was a traditional musician, Irish language campaigner, and hosted a show on Raidió Fáilte.
• The short film ends with the message: 'For those we have lost and those we do not wish to lose.'
• The track is the fourth single from Kneecap's upcoming album 'FENIAN', released this Friday (May 1).
• Móglaí Bap revealed he first saw his mother happy in a video from a 1990s documentary about his father, then president of Conradh na Gaeilge.

A personal tribute set to music and film

Northern Irish rap trio Kneecap have unveiled a 12-minute short film titled 'Irish Goodbye', serving as both a music video for their new song and a memorial to band member Móglaí Bap's late mother, Aoife Ní Riain. The film, released on Wednesday, features spoken word performer and recording artist Kae Tempest alongside Irish actors Liam Cunningham, known for Game of Thrones, and Deirdre O'Kane. The song appears on Kneecap's forthcoming album 'FENIAN', which drops this Friday, May 1. The short film intercuts dramatic scenes of a family grappling with a loss implied to be suicide with shots of Kneecap and Tempest rapping around a table. It concludes with the dedication: “For those we have lost and those we do not wish to lose,” explicitly honoring Aoife Ní Riain. The project blends music, poetry, and cinema to explore grief and memory.

Móglaí Bap's journey through grief and songwriting

Móglaí Bap, whose real name is Naoise Ó Cairealláin, wrote 'Irish Goodbye' after a chance discovery of a video showing his mother happy. In a lengthy Instagram post, he explained that someone sent his brother a documentary from the 1990s featuring their father, then president of Conradh na Gaeilge. The film crew had visited their home, capturing the children doing homework and playing. “We weren’t the kind of family who had films of ourselves when we were young, just photographs, so it was the first time I saw my Ma in a video. And she was happy,” he wrote. “That had a profound effect on me, seeing her happy.” He had previously written a song called 'MAM' in 2020, hoping his mother would hear it and feel her worth while she was struggling with depression. “She was sick at the time with depression. The idea I had in my head with MAM was, if I wrote it, she’d hear it, and maybe she’d feel her worth, because when you suffer from depression, you can’t see your own value,” he said. He told her about the song during a walk but waited to play it for her. “But by then it was too late.”

The mundane moments that become cherished memories

Móglaí Bap described 'Irish Goodbye' as a reflection on the everyday activities he shared with his mother. “I never realised it was the day to day stuff I would miss when she was gone; going for a walk in the park, her giving out to me or keeping me in line, offering me pieces of advice. It’s all the small things that you miss,” he wrote. The song's title references the Irish tradition of leaving a gathering without saying goodbye, a metaphor for the suddenness of loss. He acknowledged the difficulty of processing his mother's death by suicide. “People ask me how I coped. I didn’t cope,” he said. “It takes years. So you cope in whatever way you can in the moment. But there’s help out there too. When I was eventually able for it, therapy was the thing that helped me.” He emphasized that the song and film are meant to offer solace to others: “I’m hoping if people listen to the song, and watch the video, maybe something will connect that gives them some sort of relief. You can’t carry this stuff around with you and blame yourself. It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s fault. It’s about the process of dealing with it. And you can deal with it. You can.”

Kae Tempest's contribution and the album's reception

Móglaí Bap praised Kae Tempest's involvement, saying, “Kae delivered something so vulnerable and emotional to the song. That was a really special moment for us.” Tempest's spoken word adds a layer of poetic intensity to the track, which blends hip-hop with Irish traditional influences. The short film's cast also includes Deirdre O'Kane, known for Small Town: Big Story, and Liam Cunningham, enhancing the narrative's emotional weight. 'FENIAN', the album featuring 'Irish Goodbye', has already garnered critical acclaim. In a four-and-a-half-star review, NME's Andrew Trendell wrote: “Put all the rage-bait headlines aside and what you’re left with is a solid, progressive and fearless album from a group that could just as easily be dicking around instead of making music that matters. In that sense at least, their day has come.” The album is set for release on May 1.

A broader conversation about mental health and support

The release of 'Irish Goodbye' comes amid a growing recognition of mental health challenges in the music industry. Móglaí Bap's candid discussion of his mother's depression and suicide, as well as his own therapy, underscores the importance of seeking help. The band has directed fans to resources including the charity Help Musicians UK, which offers round-the-clock mental health support, and Music Support Org, which assists musicians struggling with addiction or mental health issues. Other organizations highlighted include MITC, a collective of music industry therapists, and TONIC Rider, which provides bespoke training and support for music professionals. The film's closing dedication serves as a reminder of the lives lost and the ongoing need for compassion and care. Kneecap's willingness to address such a personal tragedy publicly may encourage others to open up about their own experiences.

The legacy of Aoife Ní Riain and the power of art

Aoife Ní Riain was more than the subject of a song; she was a traditional musician and a passionate Irish language campaigner who hosted her own show on Belfast's community radio station Raidió Fáilte. Her death in 2020 left a void that Móglaí Bap has tried to fill through his art. The short film 'Irish Goodbye' not only honors her memory but also transforms grief into a shared experience, inviting listeners to find comfort in the mundane moments that define relationships. By weaving together personal narrative, music, and film, Kneecap have created a work that transcends the typical music video. It stands as a testament to the enduring bond between mother and son, and a reminder that even in loss, there can be connection. As Móglaí Bap put it, the song is about “the process of dealing with it. And you can deal with it. You can.”

The bottom line

• Kneecap's 'Irish Goodbye' is a 12-minute short film and music video featuring Kae Tempest, Liam Cunningham, and Deirdre O'Kane, released ahead of the album 'FENIAN' on May 1.
• The song was written by Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin) after seeing a video of his mother, Aoife Ní Riain, happy for the first time; she died by suicide in 2020.
• Móglaí Bap emphasized the importance of therapy and urged others not to blame themselves for a loved one's suicide.
• The short film ends with a dedication to Aoife Ní Riain and the message 'For those we have lost and those we do not wish to lose.'
• Mental health resources for musicians are highlighted, including Help Musicians UK, Music Support Org, MITC, and TONIC Rider.
• The album 'FENIAN' received a four-and-a-half-star review from NME, praised as 'solid, progressive and fearless.'