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Dermot Kennedy draws thousands to surprise charity busk in Dublin
The singer brought the city centre to a standstill with an incredible performance for home fans
Thousands gathered on the streets of Dublin this week to welcome home local hero Dermot Kennedy as he performed for fans on Grafton Street. The last-minute gig on the balcony of the city’s famous Bewley’s Cafe – just steps away from where Kennedy once busked during his teen years – raised much-needed funds for Barretstown children’s charity.
The street was lit up with Christmas lights and phones as fans sang along to some of the singer’s biggest hits, together with songs from his new album, Sonder.
Sharing footage of the special moment on Twitter, Kennedy wrote: “That was something I will NEVER forget. “My hometown and my heart – once in a lifetime feeling.” A sentiment echoed by most who were there that night.
Fans quickly took to social media to celebrate Kennedy’s success in recent years and described the feeling in the crowd that night as “magical”.
The performance came hours after Kennedy met with fans in nearby St Stephen’s Green for an album signing. Kennedy has often spoken about his experience performing on the streets of Dublin, even going viral previously thanks to a sing-along with Glen Hansard, Damien Rice and Bono during one of their famous Christmas Eve busks, describing it as “the highlight of my busking life”.
