Cork’s Funky Leprechaun: 'If I go to jail it will surely make world news'

Despite criticism from local businesses, street entertainer says he would go to jail if necessary after falling foul of busking bylaws

Gerry Barry, right, has been the Funky Leprechaun since 2018. His nephew Damien joined the act after people on St Patrick's Street enjoyed their spontaneous dance off in 2021. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Despite coming under pressure from businesses and local authorities, Cork’s dancing leprechaun says he will stop at nothing, including jail, to save his street act.

Gerry Barry has taken to St Patrick’s Street to busk with his nephew, Damian Barry, for the first time since their appearance at Cork District Court, saying he will continue to bring joy to visitors and locals on the city’s main thoroughfare.

Some members of the public joined them for a jig in an amusing show of support for the locally famed buskers.

While the duo said they will comply with a court order to secure a street performing licence, they still oppose the city’s 2024 regulations, parts of which, Gerry said, makes it almost impossible for acts like theirs to perform, as they require them to move their entire show every couple of hours to a different location.

The two leprechauns appeared before Cork District Court recently where they were given four months to comply with the city’s new busking bylaws.

“If I go to jail it will surely make world news,” Gerry joked. “You just never know.”

'When people go to Disneyland they want to see Mickey Mouse. It’s the same in Ireland, only people want to see a leprechaun.' Gerry Barry is determined to keep up his Funky Leprechaun act on St Patrick's Street in Cork. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Gerry and Damien can regularly be found performing outside Brown Thomas dressed as leprechauns, playing the spoons against lively backing tracks.

The pair showed no signs of stress as they interacted and joked with passers-by in the build-up to St Patrick’s Day.

However, Gerry’s sunny disposition hid a genuine worry about the threat to his livelihood.

Damien and Gerry Barry with Bernie Murphy from Passage West, Co Cork. Some members of the public joined the leprechauns for a jig in a show of support on Friday. Picture: Noel Sweeney

“I’ve been doing this since 1986,” he said. “The late Echo seller Mick O’Regan used to be the longest person operating on the streets of Cork but now it’s me.

“I started off doing street art but the strain on my eyes took a massive toll so I had to think of something else to do.

“Back in the day I used to come in at 5am to get started on my street art.

Gerry Barry dancing with a passerby on the Friday afternoon of St Patrick’s weekend. Gerry had been making street art on St Patrick’s St in Cork since 1986 but switched to his leprechaun act in 2018. Picture: Noel Sweeney

“One time I was doing a painting of Riverdance as Michael Flatley was on his way into Brown Thomas. He just looked back and smiled at me because he didn’t want anybody else to know who he was.”

Gerry said the act has brought a lot of joy to tourists.

“When people go to Disneyland they want to see Mickey Mouse. It’s the same in Ireland, only people want to see a leprechaun.

Noreen Deasy and Eileen Wiseman with the Funky Leprechauns on St Patrick's Street ahead of the St Patrick's Day revelry. Picture: Noel Sweeney

“They want to have their photographs taken with them. It’s absolutely brilliant to be able to bring that kind of joy to the streets.”

It wasn’t just tourists who were glad to see Gerry and Damian back performing.

Margaret Jackson and the little boy she minds, Charlie, were also keen to offer their well wishes to the duo.

Eileen Wiseman from Ballinlough in Cork sent a photo of herself with the Funky Leprechauns to her son in Perth. Picture: Noel Sweeney

At just four years old, Charlie has become a fan of the leprechauns.

“Charlie is four and I’m his minder,” Margaret said.

“I say I’m his minder but, really, he minds me. We wait for the 215 bus and we listen to the leprechauns together. Sometimes we dance with them.

“This is what we do while we wait and the time goes a lot faster. I don’t want to see them disappear. There’s a crock of gold for us all.”

Eva Costello who lives in Australia stopped to take a picture of Funky Leprechauns, Damien Barry and his Uncle Gerry, while on a shopping trip in Cork. Picture: Noel Sweeney

However, not everyone is a fan of the act, as Gerry explains.

“I’ve had it said to my face by one of the business owners that we are a bad look for the city. One person called it paddywhackery and accused us of bringing undesirables into the city.”

Gerry said he would be devastated to have to let go of the act.

Peta Scott form Delgany Co Wicklow said she did not see any problem with the Funky Leprechauns performing on St Patrick's Street. Picture: Noel Sweeney

“At 62, I’m an old man now,” he said.

“When I started to develop the problems with my eyes from the street painting I put on an elf costume and performed at Christmas. When Christmas was over I knew I needed something similar that would make people laugh.

“That was in 2018 but it wasn’t until 2021 that my nephew got involved. 

"It happened by accident really. 

Damien Barry and his Uncle Gerry Barry, the Funky Leprechauns, with their backdrop on St Patrick's Street in Cork. Gerry explains that Damien became part of the act after a hilarious dance off in 2021. Picture: Noel Sweeney

"He bumped into me one day dressed as a leprechaun and started to have a dance off with me. People started laughing at him doing the dance with me.

“He loved it, so much so that he started coming along just for the craic. We’ve been doing it together ever since.

“I’m not a talented musician by any stretch but that’s not the point of the act. It’s all about the interactions with the public and making them laugh and smile.”