Even Better Than the Real Thing is the title of a number of Irish charity albums recorded on The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM and released over a number of years for the Irish Christmas market.[1][2] The albums featured Irish artists performing covers of various pop songs until 2005 when the series was temporarily discontinued,[3] although in 2008 Even Better Than the Disco Thing was released featuring covers of disco songs instead.[4][5] The title is taken from the U2 song "Even Better Than the Real Thing".
The Ray Darcy Show on Today FM has already put together a number of cover version albums to aid various charities. The latest is Even Better Than The Disco Thing with Cathy Davey, Lisa Hannigan, Jape, Republic of Loose, The Blizzards Duke Special, Director and many more getting on down. All proceeds go to the National Children's Hospital and Barretstown.