Ireland Filled With Shane MacGowan’s Songs on Day of His Funeral

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Thousands of mourners converged on St. Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, Ireland, on Friday to pay their respects to the late Pogues frontman, Shane MacGowan. MacGowan died of complications from pneumonia on Nov. 30.

Those in attendance included Nick Cave, Johnny Depp, Bob Geldof, and Ireland’s President, Michael D. Higgins, according to Sky News. MacGowan’s sister, Siobhan MacGowan, told the congregation that her brother’s veins had run “with Irish blood.”

Cave performed the Pogues song “A Rainy Night in Soho” at the service. His face looked emotional, and his voice quivered as he played the piano, and musicians played violin and accordion around him.

Former Pogues bassist Cait O’Riordan and musician John Francis Flynn also performed the traditional song  “I’m a Man You Don’t Meet Every Day,” which the Pogues recorded in 1985. Glen Hansard and Lisa O’Neill sang “Fairytale of New York.” Four of the surviving Pogues, Jem Finer, Terry Woods, Spider Stacy, and James Fearnley, performed “The Parting Glass.”

At the service, MacGowan’s widow, Victoria May Clarke, presented a Context of Symbols, which included MacGowan’s Crock of Gold book, a Buddha, James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake, a Led Zeppelin album, the couple’s wedding photo, and a tray that Pogues member Spider Stacy would sometimes “bash over Shane’s head.” Later, when Clarke spoke, she said MacGowan was “intensely religious.” She said that he’d even urged Depp to forgive Amber Heard during Depp’s and Heard’s defamation trial.

Depp led a prayer at the service. “We pray for a deeper spirit of compassion in the world,” he said. “May we feel the pain of others, understand their need and reach out to all who suffer in any way with a continuous love that is rooted in faith and peace. Lord, hear us.” A recording of Bono reciting part of Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians was also played.

“Shane, you did what you dreamed,” Siobhan MacGowan said during her reading. “You did what you said were going to do in those long ago days in Tipperary, and you did it with such heart and fire – a fire that is not dimmed by death.” And speaking on behalf of her father as well as herself, she said, “We are so proud of you, so very proud my darling.”

Michael O’Connor, Nenagh’s director of roads, transportation, active travel, health and safety, told Billboard that the 8,000-population town would be adding 1,500 parking spaces in anticipation of a surge of mourners. “We’ll have his more famous songs played on the public-address system,” he said. “We’re delighted that he’s coming home.”

In Dublin, a large crowd gathered and sang “Fairytale of New York” as MacGowan’s cortège passed by.