Busker Martin McDonnell got a very special tip this week while covering Hozier’s 2013 breakthrough hit “Take Me To Church” on a street in Dublin, Ireland.
The 18-year-old was left stunned when Hozier himself dropped some cash into his guitar case and gave him a thumbs-up.
McDonnell tried to go on playing but couldn’t. “Oh my god, no way,” he said. “S**t, hold on. I’m going to take a second because…”
He then called after Hozier: “Thank you so much! Have a good one, man!”
McDonnell couldn’t believe what just happened. “Ah, wow,” he said. “That was, ah, that was Hozier.”
The moment was captured on video and shared on social media. At around the 0:25 mark, Hozier – wearing a long coat and holding several shopping bags – approaches the busker to make a donation.
“Thanks for stopping by today @hozier," McDonnell wrote on Instagram. “Feel free to join in next time bro.”
When the day feels a little meh. Here's @Hozier tipping busker @McdonnellMusic on Grafton Street covering Take Me To Church to turn it all around! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/CMUFOYVvJ2
— Universal Music Irl (@UniMusicIreland) October 13, 2020