Kneecap Release “Irish Goodbye” As Song Faces Reality Of Rapper’s Mother’s Passing

Móglaí Bap has shared that he wrote Kneecap’s latest track while trying to come to terms with the loss of his mother to suicide.

The Belfast trio have released their new single Irish Goodbye today 28 April 2026, taken from their forthcoming album Fenian, with Móglaí Bap, whose real name is Naoise O Cairealláin, opening up about how the emotional track featuring Kae Tempest came together after his mother’s passing in 2020.

He wrote in a lengthy Instagram message: “I never meant to write a song abut this.”

He explained that he and his brother had recently watched a documentary about their father from the 1990s, during a time when he served as president of a democratic forum representing the Irish speaking community.

He continued: “That had a profound effect on me, seeing her happy. I was so emotional seeing her like that.

“I had written a song about her before, called MAM, which came out in 2020. 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.

“At that time, we went for a walk, and I told her I had written a song for hear, but that it wasn't completely finished yet, so I'd wait until the next week to play it for her. But by then it was too late.”

He also reflected on how difficult suicide is to process, saying that when someone takes their own life, it can become hard to hold on to the positive memories as darker moments take over.

Móglaí Bap said of the track: “Irish Goodbye is about the mundane things me and my Ma did together.

“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 the small things you miss.”

He added that the music was created by Dan Carey, while Tempest brings what he described as “someone so vulnerable and emotional” to the record.

The rapper shared that it took him years to begin accepting his mother’s death, noting that therapy has played a key role in helping him process his grief, while encouraging others to reach out and speak to someone.

Móglaí Bap said he hopes the song can offer comfort to people facing similar experiences.

He said: “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.”