Musician with broken thumb busks his way into record books

Marty Rafferty, a musician from County Armagh in Northern Ireland, has made history by breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest busking session. Busking means playing music in public places for donations, and Marty managed to perform for a full 24 hours straight. He started his marathon performance at midday on Wednesday and continued until midday on Thursday, even though he had injured his thumb just a week before. Marty had originally planned to finish at 6:00 pm on Thursday, but he had to stop early at 3:00 pm because his thumb was hurting too much and his voice was getting weak. Despite these challenges, Marty was thrilled when he broke the record, saying he was 'buzzing' with excitement.

Marty’s achievement was even more impressive because he had to play with a broken thumb, which he wrapped with blue tape to help him keep going. The event took place at the bandstand on Market Street in Armagh, where Marty played under a metal gazebo, wearing a black hoodie and a baseball cap. His brother helped him by bringing jackets to keep him warm during the cold night, which Marty said was the hardest part of the challenge. The buskathon was not just about breaking records; Marty also used it as a way to raise money for a local Christmas toy appeal, helping children in need during the holiday season.

The event was organized by Liam White, who said the idea started as a fundraising concert but grew into a world record attempt after they contacted Guinness World Records for the official guidelines. Marty had to follow strict rules, such as not repeating the same song within four hours, taking a 30-second break between songs, and making sure each song lasted more than two and a half minutes. The entire performance was recorded to prove he followed the rules. Marty didn’t have to sing all the time, but he did have to play an instrument on stage for the whole 24 hours. After completing the record, Marty told the crowd he wanted to try for 30 hours next time, joking that a two-hour gig would feel short after this experience. His determination and positive attitude inspired many people, including his friend James McGrath, who said Marty is all about persistence and getting things done. Fiona Kelly from the West Armagh Consortium charity said she was proud of Marty and his band for raising awareness for the toy appeal. Marty’s story shows that with hard work and a strong mindset, you can achieve great things, even when faced with tough challenges.