Who will be crowned Busker of the Year in Belfast?
From jangly 1960s-style pop melodies to a Ballymena man on the bagpipes, the Busker of the Year 1984 competition in Belfast gives street musicians a chance to show off their talent on 7 September 1984.
At lunchtime,14 acts perform in front of a curious crowd gathered on Arthur Street outside the offices of estate agent Brian Morton and Company, the competition sponsors.
Eric Cairns of Brian Morton wants to see Belfast back on the map as a shopping area. Running the busking competition helps lift spirits, adding to a brighter Belfast. From the numbers attending, he considers the inaugural competition a success and hopes,
It will be the start of an annual event.
Eric Cairns would love for Belfast to be known as a musical city for professional and amateur musicians.
Competition judges are the leader of the Ulster Orchestra Richard Howarth and local celebrity Trevor Kelly. Eric Mawhinney is announced as competition runner-up,
On behalf of the people of Belfast by popular and public acclimation you are runner up in the Busker of the Year 1984.
Eric Mawhinney receives a £75 cheque as his prize.
For the competition judges, it was difficult to decide a competition winner. However,
The gentleman who won - won simply because of his pure busking ability.
Trevor Kelly announces Belfast's Busker of the Year 1984 is 23-year-old Queen's University student Dave Lennon from Bangor. Even though Dave Lennon broke a guitar string during his performance, he still took the crowds and judges by storm with his self-penned composition 'Belfast'. He is delighted to accept the first prize cheque of £100.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 14 September 1984. The reporter is Gary Honeyford.
