Dublin came alive this afternoon when two modern day musical superstars – in the shape of Niall Horan and Lewis Capaldi – descended on Grafton Street for a very special busking session.

Following a day of rumour and counter-rumour, the two musicians joined the hugely popular Dublin busking sensation Jacob Koopman, proceeding to perform a number of songs in the gorgeous August Irish sunshine, as crowds jostled for room and revelled in taking selfies and recording proceedings on their mobile phones.

Niall Horan is, of course, formerly a member of One Direction, He has carved out a hugely successful solo career, becoming one of just four Irish artists who have hit the No.1 slot in the US. Others to have achieved that distinction are U2, Sinead O’Connor and Hozier.

Lewis Capaldi may be Scottish but he has powerful links here in Ireland, where he has been one of the breaking stars of the past five years. Capaldi played hugely successful open air shows at Musgrave Park in Cork and Malahide Castle earlier this summer. Together, in what was a good humoured and occasionally raucous occasion, they played Niall Horan’s 'Slow Hands’, Lewis Capaldi’s ‘Before You Know' and the Coldplay classic ‘Yellow’.

The duo had come to Grafton Street from the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin 8.

All told, the session added a frisson of real excitement to the city centre in advance of what promises to be a bright and sunny weekend.