More than €320,000 raised for homeless by 'Big Busk' around the country

ALL day busking events featuring musicians such as Gavin James and Erica Coady in Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny, and other locations around Ireland, have raised €320,400 to combat homelessness across the country during the annual Big Busk held recently, it has been confirmed.

More than 240 Irish music acts including singer-songwriters, jazz bands, hip hop groups, and school choirs performed on streets to raise funds and highlight the urgent need to tackle homelessness across the country .

The annual event, which is supported by Today FM and organised by Focus Ireland also included performances from Saibh Kelly, Cathy Jordan, and Lea Heart.

Today FM presenter Matt Cooper hosted Lea Heart — who has garnered a huge following on social media for her music — who sang ‘Valerie’, the song made famous by the late Amy Winehouse.

It is one of the songs which featured on a ‘super focused setlist’ which was compiled for the day by James Flanagan, who experienced homelessness as a child and received help from Focus Ireland.

For James, the song had a special meaning.

“I always heard my mother sing it and then I’d be hearing it on the radio, so it brings me back to the time when we were still smiling through the struggles,” he said.

Success

The fundraising event was an unqualified success, according to Today FM owners Bauer Ireland’s head of music and entertainment Róisín Reilly, who thanked the buskers, volunteers, and listeners who had made a contribution to raising the €320,400 total, with more yet to be counted.

“This money will go such a long way and make such a difference to so many people’s lives who are currently experiencing homelessness right now,” he said.

Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan described the Big Busk as an incredible nationwide effort and took the opportunity to make a direct appeal to Taoiseach Simon Harris.

“Homelessness can be ended if the right actions are taken,” he said.

“As we welcome our new Taoiseach, we hope he recognises the passion and commitment of people to end homelessness.

“There is now a record number of 13,841 people homeless, including over 4,000 children, so it is truly clear that urgent action is needed to end this human crisis.”

Big Busk donations to fight homelessness continue to be tallied and are still being accepted through the link at https://www.todayfm.com or via the Revolut app.