Cork buskers raise €8,000 for Penny Dinners

The third annual busking marathon fundraiser for Cork Penny Dinners, which was held this year on Patrick’s Street on the Saturday before Christmas, has raised €8,016.46.

The busking marathon, which ran from 10am until well after 7pm, is the brainchild of two Cork singers who, between them, have had five Number One hits on the iTunes charts over the past three years.

This is the third year that Whitechurch native Dylan Brickley and Farranree man Korey Power have put together an all-day show outside Brown Thomas with their friends from Cork’s music scene.

Their first year was “half rained-off”, Mr Brickley told The Echo on Christmas Eve, but the still managed to raise in the region of €3,000 for Cork Penny Dinners, and last year they raised almost €6,000.

“This year, our fellow musicians, and the people of Cork, really came through and we managed to raise €8,000. It was just such a special day from start to finish, with so many fabulous performances, and as usual we finished up with the Cork Penny Dinners High Hopes Choir, which always just really captures the spirit of Christmas,” Mr Brickley said.

Dylan Brickley said the that the fundraiser had received this year had been beyond everyone’s expectations.

“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.

“All the musicians that gave their and gave their time, they really went above and beyond the call of duty this year, and the generosity of the people of Cork just knows no bounds,” Mr Brickley said.

“When you’re out there, playing your heart out, and people know it’s to raise money for Penny Dinners, I think that’s when the spirit of Christmas really comes alive on the streets of Cork.” 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 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.

Their shared festive single ‘Last Christmas’ went to Number One on the iTunes charts last week, for a day edging out even the unstoppable ‘Fairytale of New York’.

‘Last Christmas’ by Dylan Brickley and Korey Power is available on iTunes.

On Christmas Day, volunteers at Cork Penny Dinners expect 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,” Ms Twomey said.