Shane MacGowan was buried on Friday afternoon (December 8). Thousands of mourners, including Irish politicians and many celebrities, are expected to pay their last respects to The Pogues singer.
MacGowan died last week at the age of 65 after a long illness. After his death, numerous musicians came forward to remember the Irishman’s great songwriting skills. Bruce Springsteen called him one of the greatest. U2 paid tribute to MacGowan with a cover during a Las Vegas concert.
In the town of Nenagh, where a public service and then a private cremation will take place on Friday, the band’s songs have been playing on a loop in public for hours, according to the British Telegraph.
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Popular local band Cronin were chosen to play at MacGowan’s funeral alongside self-confessed Pogues fan Nick Cave.
The Longford band have had a long relationship with the late singer, appearing on television and recording music with him.
Singer Mick Cronin said he will always remember his time in the studio with MacGowan and performing at festivals.
“We have lost a dear friend, an idol, a colleague, a band member, a genius and a proud Irishman,” he said.
This is how the funeral will go
The procession, which will reportedly include a horse-drawn carriage as well as the Artane Band and a bagpiper, will move through Nenagh across MacMahon Bridge and into Pearse Street. It will turn onto Westland Row and Fenian Street and end at Denzille Lane.
MacGowan’s public funeral service will take place at St Mary’s of the Rosary Church, Nenagh, at 3.30pm Irish time.
Following the funeral service, members of the public will also have the opportunity to pay their final respects as the funeral procession moves through the city center from Church Road to Market Cross.
Shane MacGowan’s widow reveals cause of death
Previously, MacGowan’s widow Victoria Mary Clarke stated that the cause of the singer’s death was pneumonia. MacGowan had suffered from a number of health problems over the years, most recently being treated in hospital for encephalitis.
Clarke is touched by people’s sympathy. She wrote in a statement: “It is incredible that so many people want to come to his funeral and that so many wonderful people are putting their hearts and souls into making it great, magical and unforgettable.”
MacGowan’s widow also said she worried about him for 35 years because he “push the limits of what man can do to his body.”
Will the Pogues soon be number one on the charts?
The Pogues frontman is also known for his Christmas hit “Fairytale Of New York”, which could now reach number one in the charts. The song was not granted that when it was released in 1987. “Fairytale” only climbed to second place.
Clarke said with a smile on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Thursday: “I don’t think it would matter much to Shane if Fairytale went to number one.”