More than a thousand Dubliners crammed into a street in one of the capital’s busiest shopping districts to sing along with star singers in a touching ode to Shane MacGowan at a charity gig.
Famous Irish performers Glen Hansard and Imelda May led the cheery and excited crowd in an energetic performance of Pogues hit Fairytale of New York, a seasonal favourite, fittingly set on Christmas Eve.
Hansard, an Oscar-winning singer-songwriter, began the festivities earlier in the evening by performing A Rainy Night in Soho as the audience sang along under the clear Dublin sky.
The members of the crowd, dressed up in festive garb and donning Santa hats, sang along as different buskers who normally perform in the area took the stage to sing covers of a range of other well-known songs, including Zombie by The Cranberries.
Dublin Simon staged the 12th edition of its annual Christmas Eve Busk outside the iconic Gaiety Theatre near Grafton Street.
Busy last-minute shoppers took a break to watch and contribute to the donation drive, on one of the charity’s busiest fundraising days of the year.
The Busk is back! Taking place at 5 PM outside the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin city centre for an extraordinary live concert. Expect an incredible lineup of talented musicians and surprise guests, all lending their voices to a cause that matters. pic.twitter.com/Gd3cgPItiU
Advertisement— Dublin Simon (@Dublin_Simon) December 24, 2023
Performers included well-known names like May, Hansard, Rachel Mae Hannon and the Riptide Movement as well as some Dublin Simon service users.
May performed an emotional tribute to Sinead O’Connor, who died during the year, by singing Nothing Compares 2 U.
Hansard said it was an honour and a blessing to be performing at the free outdoor gig.
“What this is all about is singing a few songs to raise some money for shelter for people, brothers and sisters.”
He added: “I’m so grateful to everybody who shows up every year and what they bring is just phenomenal.”
Children clambered onto parents’ shoulders, bins and trees to get a better view as Santa Claus himself encouraged onlookers to dig deep for those who may be sleeping rough on the cold winter night.
Join us tonight as musicians across Ireland unite to raise awareness and support for Dublin Simon Community : 5pm outside the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin or 8pm online at https://t.co/DTztGt5KzN
You can also support by donating at https://t.co/hZT5kgJMEg#supportinghomelessness pic.twitter.com/NBCV7zGa4Y— Imelda May (@ImeldaOfficial) December 24, 2023
At one point, a member of the public joined Hansard on stage to fill in on the drum set for a performance of The Frames’ hit Star Star.
Hansard told the crowd: “Thanks so much, the greatest gift you can give anybody is your time and attention – this has been wonderful.”
Members of the public were asked to donate on dubsimon.ie.
