Grafton Street has long been the beating heart of Dublin’s street music scene — home to some of the finest buskers in the world. HEY MARY (PLAY A SONG FOR ME), the soul-stirring new single by acclaimed artist Robin James Hurt, pays tribute to one of those legends: Máire Begley, a world-renowned Irish musician and Gaeilgeoir whose powerful performances outside Bewley’s Café have captivated crowds for years.
The second single is out now from Hurt’s eagerly awaited upcoming album ‘A Song, A Story Told‘, due for release in October 2025.
With lyrics penned by esteemed Dublin singer-songwriter Tony Floyd Kenna, the track is a heartwarming and melodic homage to the magic of live music, connection, and shared joy. Fusing Hurt’s signature storytelling with jangling electric guitars, a kick-driven power-pop rhythm section, and a chiming 12-string guitar, the song is both nostalgic and electrifying — a celebration of the everyday magic found on city streets.
“Tony was inspired after meeting Máire and sent me the lyrics. The tune poured out of me — it was like one of Máire’s polkas. I started playing it live and the audience reaction was instant. That’s when I knew it had to be recorded.” — Robin James Hurt
Recorded at his home studio The Flux Capacitor in County Wexford on a vintage eight-track cassette recorder, Hurt performed, produced, and mixed the entire track himself — with Graham Carey on drums delivering a blistering beat reminiscent of Stewart Copeland in his prime.
The result is a track as warm and rich as the story it tells — a song about presence, connection, and the transcendent joy of music shared on street corners.
ABOUT ROBIN JAMES HURT
Belfast-born and Scotland-raised, Robin James Hurt is one of the most vital voices in contemporary Irish folk. Known for his raw energy, magnetic stage presence, and unforgettable musicality, Hurt has toured extensively across Europe, sharing stages with the likes of Ronnie Drew, Sinéad O’Connor, and Finbar Furey. Now based in Wexford, he continues to carve his legacy with songs that are as grounded in tradition as they are fiercely original.