The Tenth Man was behind the Fenian hotline in Belfast which generated over 15,000 calls in four days and sparked widespread media conversations. The stunt, delivered using a roaming digital ad van and powered by a live recorded hotline, was created to raise awareness of Kneecap’s second album Fenian, and the release of its first single, Liars Tale.
Designed as a piece of pure cultural mischief, the hotline invited the public to ‘report Fenian activity’ by phone, prompting a deadpan recorded message and encouraging callers to leave their own voice notes. The result was a wave of participation, with thousands of messages logged and a surge of UGC as people tracked the van across the city in real time.
Kneecap are unmatched at creating energy and we’re proud to help build hype around Fenian’s release – Ken Robertson
The stunt’s reach grew so quickly that it eventually attracted the attention of the PSNI, who caught up with the van and shut it down, a moment that only poured more fuel on the fire. The reveal marks the latest chapter in a long-standing collaboration between Kneecap and The Tenth Man; blurring the line between advertising, satire, activism and culture.
Ken Robertson, CEO, The Tenth Man, said the hotline was designed to do one thing; make noise. “Belfast didn’t just respond, it absolutely hijacked it. 15,000 calls in four days tells you everything: people want culture that feels live, unpredictable and genuinely of the moment,” he said. Images include a standout moment with Gerry Adams beside the van.
Watch the video here
