Dermot Kennedy has raised nearly $300,000 – or nearly €265,000 – for charitable causes in the run-up to Christmas, as reported by uDiscoverMusic.

The Irish star played four shows in Dublin's 3Arena earlier this month, raising funds for Pieta, who help  people in suicidal distress or engaging in self-harm across Ireland, and Focus Ireland, who work with people who are homeless or are at risk of losing their home.

He also organised a Charity Busk in New York on December 11, in aid of MusiCares. The charity is described as a "safety net supporting the health and wellbeing of the music community" – by offering "preventive, emergency, and recovery" programmes.

"Finally resting after a crazy few weeks," Dermot wrote on Instagram last week. 'Thank you so much to everyone who came to the 4 Dublin shows over the last couple days... The most fulfilling thing I’ve done in my career yet. We were never willing to let those shows go, so we had to make it work. So much love that I cannot get into a caption. Thank you for always supporting..."

Watch him perform 'Better Days' live from the New York busk below:

In the Hot Press Annual 2022, cover star Glen Hansard spoke about first coming into contact with Dermot at one of the iconic Christmas Eve Busks in Dublin.

“I remember one year, some guy dropped in,” Glen recalled. “I had no idea who he was, but he knew the Dylan song ‘You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere’ – because I could see him singing along with me. He had a nice vibe off him, so I said, ‘Go on, you finish it!’ And he sang the last verse. I remember he had a great voice, and great presence. Afterwards, I was asking everyone, ‘Who was the guy in the red hat?’

“A year later, I was in America on tour, and I finally met the guy in the red hat – and it was Dermot Kennedy, who was on tour in America at the time on his own.”

Take a look at Dermot Kennedy's rescheduled Irish dates:

Jun 6, 7 & 8 – Killarney – Gleaneagle INEC Arena
Jun 10 & 11  – Raheny – Saint Annes Park
Jun 24 – Dublin – Malahide Castle
Jun 25 – Cork – Irish Independent Park