Christmas Eve Busk to continue in Dublin, following death of Glen Hansard

Glen Hansard's Christmas Eve Busk is set to continue in Dublin this year, following his death in July, as reported by RTÉ.

Artists that will perform on Dublin's Grafton Street include Mundy, The Coronas frontman Danny O'Reilly, and Imelda May. They will be raising money for Dublin Simon Community, which provides services that support the homeless community, helping them achieve safety, stability, and independence.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland, Dublin Simon Community CEO, Catherine Kenny said the musician's death has been "incredibly impactful for us all," as she confirmed that this year's busk will be going ahead.

She elaborated that his absence would be strongly felt, however the musicians that will be taking part in this year's event reflected the strength of the community he helped to build.

"It's a particularly poignant time for us this year. Obviously, his passing during the year was incredibly impactful for us all.

"It's so incredible to see the community that are coming together, as you said, led by Mundy, Danny O'Reilly and Imelda May, that community coming together during the emotional time and keeping his message, and the issue of homelessness, alive.

"And showing that there's still a dedication to raising that awareness, but also the true belief that homelessness isn't inevitable and that, by coming together, change is possible."

Kenny later mentioned that The Christmas Eve Busk has raised more than €1 million for Dublin Simon Community over the years. According to recent statistics, there are 17,885 people in homeless accommodation across Ireland, with 70 per cent of the country's homeless population concentrated in Dublin.

The busk originally begin in 2010 as an impromptu sing-song on Grafton Street, however over the years it has grown into a more organised event outside of the Gaeity Theatre.

Past performers include Bono, Damien Rice, Dermot Kennedy, Sinéad O'Connor, and Lisa Hannigan.

The Dublin Simon Community are hosting several other events in December to raise money for homelessness services.

This includes the Dublin Simon Community Christmas Art Auction running from November 29 to December 9, as well as the Sing For Simon Christmas Concert at Helix Hall featuring David Keenan on December 6.