THERE were chaotic scenes of excitement on the Garvaghy Road this evening as rappers Kneecap arrived to show support for local residents who are opposing an Orange Order march through their area.

The Irish language rappers were on the road for a couple of hours where they toured the area and visited the local bunscoil and the community centre. The lads are just the latest musicians and artists to show their support for the residents who have maintained a vigil on the Garvaghy Road since last Saturday night to prevent the Orange march passing nationalist homes.

Fans posed for photographs and chatted with the three band members. The chart-toppers, however, did not perform.

The visit comes after over 10,000 people descended on the Garvaghy Road yesterday to show solidarity with residents.

Emma Sheerin, Sinn Féin MLA for Mid-Ulster, was on Garvaghy Road to see the band's arrival.

"It's been amazing if we see the juxtaposition from last Sunday to this Sunday, this community were living in fear and there was a real sense of anxiety with the Parades Commission announcement at the end of last week.

"Over the course of the last week, the outpouring of solidarity from people from all across Ireland and beyond – and I suppose Kneecap are just another example of a musical act coming out to show solidarity with these residents – and it's so appreciated and you see the crowds have gathered and wanted to show that appreciation to Kneecap and it's been fantastic to see."

The lads posed for photos with fans during their visit
2Gallery

The lads posed for photos with fans during their visit

Speaking about how the nationalist/republican community has reacted over the past week, she added: "I think it's been really evident that nationalism across the board has reacted in the same way to the announcement that we had at the end of last week, a terrible decision by the Parades Commission and we have seen clearly that the nationalist population of the north know that they are not second class citizens and we are no longer willing to be treated as second class citizens.

"I suppose I'm just giving a voice to the constituents and the people I represent who are telling me very clearly that they don't want to see this parade down the Garvaghy Road.

"I mean ultimately there is no absence of Orange marches throughout the north. We have 2,500 Orange parades annually and people are totally willing to allow the Orange Order and anybody else to celebrate their culture, there is no issue with that. But in an area were there has been such trauma and the population here were treated so badly and suffered so greatly as a result of this dispute 28 years ago, we don't want to go back and that's the message we're sending and we're hearing very clearly; not today, not tomorrow, not ever."