“It’s a chance for the people of Cork to pay tribute to my brother, and a wonderful man.”

Those are the words of Darby Crowley, brother of Cork musician Jimmy, ahead of the concert celebrating his career in the city next week.

More than 40 performers will take part in A Musical Tribute To Jimmy Crowley at Cork City Hall on Wednesday, June 24 - an astonishing response after the call went out to raise funds for the musician.

Singer and songwriter Jimmy was in hospital for five months after suffering a stroke. He was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer last September.

His partner, Eve Telford, issued a GoFundMe appeal to raise funds so he could continue his rehabilitation at their Cobh home, and it quickly passed the €100,000 mark.

As well as donations, a number of concerts in Ireland and around the world were arranged to raise money for the cause, including a trad and folk session in the Randy Leprechaun bar in La Zenia, Spain - a former haunt of Jimmy’s - which raised €1,130.

A group of Cork musicians, including William Hammond, also set out to put on a big tribute event for Jimmy in the city, and among those 40-plus performers next week will be Jimmy’s brother Darby and Leeside musician John Spillane.

Darby, of Kilnamartyra, who is five years younger than Jimmy, and is himself a songwriter, spoke to me the day after Jimmy left........

© Evening Echo