Funeral Procession Through Dublin Pays Tribute to Shane MacGowan
Dublin mourns the loss of legendary musician Shane MacGowan, lead singer of The Pogues A moving funeral procession reverently honored his life and musical legacy, as crowds paid heartfelt tribute to this iconic figure Rest in peace, Shane MacGowan
On Friday, Dublin, Ireland honored the late Shane MacGowan, lead singer of The Pogues, with a solemn procession through the city streets. His coffin, adorned with the Irish flag, was carried in a horse-drawn carriage as mourners respectfully paid their respects along the roadside.
MacGowans music accompanied the funeral procession in both planned and spontaneous forms.
Crowds gathered in Dublin to pay tribute to Shane MacGowan.
Liam McBurney/AP
The procession came to a stop as the Artane Band, a group of young musicians, performed the beloved Christmas song "Fairytale of New York," with the crowd joining in to sing along.
In another part of the crowd, musicians played "Dirty Old Town," originally by English folk singer Ewan MacColl and later made famous by The Pogues, as well as The Pogues' 1985 hit "A Pair of Brown Eyes."
Thursday saw MacGowan's wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, take to Instagram to express her gratitude for the efforts being made to honor and celebrate her husband's life. She remarked on the outpouring of love and the dedication to making the occasion "magnificent, magical, and memorable" for both Shane and for those who are grieving his loss. In addition, she marveled at the unexpected and incredible number of people who want to attend his funeral, despite Shane's known aversion to such events.
Shane MacGowan died last week aged 65.
Danny Elwes/Evening Standard/Shutterstock
The "Fairytale of New York" singer died on November 30 after a prolonged period of ill health, according to social media posts by Clarke.
Clarke said he was discharged from St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin on November 22 after being treated for an infection. The procession for MacGowan will begin at 11 a.m. local time (6 a.m. ET) on South Lotts Road and will follow a three-kilometer (two-mile) route through central Dublin, according to a statement from the Irish police.
After the funeral procession, the service for MacGowan will be held at the St. Mary of the Rosary church in Nenagh, a small town approximately 100 miles west of Dublin. Father Pat Gilbert, the priest in charge of the service, shared this information with Ireland's public broadcaster, RTE.
English-born Irish musician Shane MacGowan, of the group the Pogues, performs onstage at the Vic Theater, Chicago, Illinois, July 12, 1986.
Paul Natkin/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Shane MacGowan, the lead singer of The Pogues, has passed away at the age of 65. According to a statement, there will be a funeral service with music performed by his friends, interspersed with the rite of reception, mass, and final accommodation.
MacGowan has faced various health challenges in the past few years and has been using a wheelchair since fracturing his pelvis in 2015. In addition, he was diagnosed with viral encephalitis last year, a serious condition that results in inflammation of the brain and can be life-threatening.
MacGowan underwent a complete dental implant procedure in 2015 due to the loss of multiple teeth from his excessive drug and alcohol use. In an Instagram post, Clarke mentioned that MacGowan would understand if people didn't want to attend his funeral, as he wouldn't want to go either.
"But if you want to remember him, the next time you see a homeless person stop give them your time and your compassion and your respect and treat them like a brother or a sister."
