Móglaí Bap


Naoise Ó Cairealláin, better known by his stage name Móglaí Bap, is an Irish rapper, actor and activist, best known as a founding member of the Irish-language hip hop trio Kneecap. He performs in both Irish and English and is noted for his cultural and political advocacy.

Early life

Ó Cairealláin's stage name Móglaí Bap derives from the bowl haircut he had as a child, reminiscent of the character Mowgli from The Jungle Book.
He is the son of Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, a prominent activist in the Irish language movement who founded the daily newspaper Lá, the cultural centre Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, and the Irish-language radio station Raidió Fáilte.

Career

Music with Kneecap

In 2017, Ó Cairealláin co-founded Kneecap with Mo Chara and DJ Próvaí. Their debut single, "C.E.A.R.T.A.", was released in 2017, followed by their first studio album 3CAG. A second album, Fine Art, was released in 2024.
The trio are known for their blend of Irish-language and English lyrics, politically charged performances, and activism around Irish republicanism, youth culture, and language rights.

Activism

Ó Cairealláin and his bandmates are vocal advocates for the Irish language and for political expression. Their imagery, such as murals of burning police Land Rovers, has generated both acclaim and controversy. They have been credited with helping make the Irish language appear "trendy, cool, and sexy" among younger generations.
In 2024, Ó Cairealláin began hosting charity runs in solidarity with Palestine. On a 10K run on 17 December 2025, he led hundreds of runners, including his brother Ainle, through Phoenix Park in Dublin. Outside Áras an Uachtaráin, he was greeted by Irish President Catherine Connolly. Ainle is the founder and director of the West Bank community gym ACLAÍ Palestine.

Acting

In 2024, Ó Cairealláin starred as himself in the biographical comedy-drama film Kneecap, directed by Rich Peppiatt. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and won the NEXT Audience Award. It later won several awards at the Galway Film Fleadh and was selected as Ireland's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
Ó Cairealláin received a nomination for Best Lead Actor at the IFTA Awards and, with his bandmates, jointly won the British Independent Film Award for Best Joint Lead Performance.

Awards