Fans gather as Kneecap hit the stage in Fairview Park, Dublin

But to borrow that well-worn notion, Kneecap at Dublin's Fairview Park on Thursday night was the musical equivalent of Marco Tardelli's iconic celebration against West Germany at the 1982 World Cup final.

This was celebration in the form of a scream, a primal roar announcing the West Belfast rappers are, in spite of swirling controversy, at the very peak of their powers.

It was a swift return to Irish soil for the trio, just a day removed from Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh's appearance before Westminster Magistrates Court in London to face a terror charge.

The incident saw the 27-year-old, better known as Mo Chara, allegedly display a flag in support of the proscribed terror group Hezbollah. That didn't stop him nor band mates Naoise 'Moglaí Bap' Ó Cairealláin and JJ 'DJ Próvaí' Ó Dochartaigh doing what they have done from the start - using their platform to speak their minds, outside noise be damned.

‘I just feel so proud of them, it brings a tear to your eye’ – Kneecap fans bask in party atmosphere at Dublin gig Allison Morris: Any hope that terror charges would silence Kneecap dashed by sea of supporters and press outside London courthouse Kneecap are pulling the oldest punk trick in the book: offending people – and it has worked

That was typified by an opening performance of the group's traditional opening track, It's Been Ages, punctuated with the bar: "Controversy won't phase us We hold all the cards and they're aces. Try to protect your kids but they'll hear us".

This week marked the first anniversary of debut album Fine Art. The title track, featuring samples of BBC radio presenter Stephen Nolan decrying the group and a mural of a burning police car, shows they have a long run of form for taking the words of their detractors and pointing them right back in the opposite direction: "You can love us or hate us, won't affect a bit of our wages."