Cork Buskers on song for cracking Christmas cause

It’s a tradition that’s only three years old, but already it feels like it wouldn’t be Christmas with the annual busking marathon on Patrick’s Street.

The busking marathon is the project of two Cork singers who, between them, have had five Number One hits on the iTunes charts over the past three years, and their joint single is currently flying it.

Whitechurch native Dylan Brickley and Farranree man Korey Power last year put together an all-day show outside Brown Thomas and, alongside their friends from Cork’s music scene, raised almost €6,000 for Cork Penny Dinners.

This year, they hoped to outdo their previous record – no pun intended - and by mid-afternoon, John Spillane had already blown the doors of the place with his own set, and Stephanie Rainey had gone down a storm with the lunchtime crowd.

With the Cork Penny Dinners High Hopes Choir planning to join them at teatime to bring the whole party home, this year’s busking marathon looked set to be the best yet.

When The Echo called to the gig on Saturday afternoon, 14-year-old Whitegate native Andrew Fletcher, who has previously played with Glen Hansard and appeared at both the Marquee and City Hall, was about to go on, only a couple of weeks after he played at Shane MacGowan’s funeral.

Dylan Brickley said the level of support they had received this year had been fantastic.

“We’re delighted to back here again this year doing it for Penny Dinners, and do you know what, I was looking forward to this all year.

“I think it could be going better than last year, and if it is, that’s a bonus, and it’s all thanks to all the musicians that gave their support and gave their time,” Mr Brickley said.

Korey Power said the day was going very well and there was a great atmosphere in the city.

“The Christmas spirit is alive and well, that’s all I know, and all for a wonderful cause in Cork Penny Dinners.

“But of course, none of this would be possible without all the support of all of the musicians and the people of Cork,” Mr Power said.

The two solo artists learned their trade busking on the streets of Cork, and Mr Brickley has more than a decade’s experience, while Mr Power started three years ago.

Mr Brickley’s songs ‘Close To You’ and ‘Sometimes’ both went to Number One, while Mr Power’s topped the iTunes charts with his songs ‘Shadows’, ‘Street Lights’ and ‘Give Me A Reason’.

In September the two Cork musicians played to their largest audience of the year, before a thousand-strong crowd at the 3 For All music stage at Electric Picnic in Stradbally.

‘Last Christmas’ by Dylan Brickley and Korey Power is available on iTunes and is powering up the charts.

On Christmas Day, Cork Penny Dinners expects to serve over 1,500 free meals.

Caitríona Twomey, Penny Dinners’ volunteer co-ordinator, told The Echo that between now and New Year’s Day, the charity will serve an estimated 10,000 meals.

Ms Twomey said the charity has recorded a sharp uptick in the need for its services in recent times, with the cost-of-living crisis driving demand as never before.

Cork Penny Dinners will be serving takeaway meals at its premises on Little Hanover Street from 9am on Christmas morning, with sit-down meals served in the Croí na Laoí wellness centre on James Street from 9am.

“We’ll be inundated with calls on Christmas morning. I would expect that we will do well over 1,500 meals on Christmas Day,”