More than half a million people tuned in to watch The Late Late Show’s special busk on Friday night – which raised €1.5million for charity.
As restrictions have prevented the traditional Christmas Eve event from taking place on Grafton Street this year, Glen Hansard brought his annual event to the RTE studios to help the homeless.
The Irish singer was joined by a host of famous faces on the night, including U2’s Bono and The Edge, Imelda May, Hozier and Shane MacGowan. Speaking on his Radio One show yesterday host Ryan Tubridy thanked viewers for rallying together once again.
He said: “Just when you thought you couldn’t ask again [for more donations], we just had one more go with the Simon Community. The busk had to be cancelled and we invited the artists in and they all came in for Friday night’s show.
“And just to let you know, that sum total from Friday alone was €1.5million.
“I don’t know where you get it from. But I did want to say thank you… to you, the Irish people, to those who call Ireland home, thank you.”
Dad of two Tubs also went on to express his sympathy to those who can’t get back home for Christmas due to the UK travel ban.
He said: “I know you think look it’s 24 hours, it’s Christmas Day... it’s not. It’s more than that, it’s an event, it’s memory, it’s the heart and it is for some it’s possibly their last and for some it’s their first.”
