Shane MacGowan funeral – latest: Johnny Depp, Bono and Bob Geldof give readings at Tipperary service
The Fairytale of New York singer will be given a private cremation in Nenagh
Thousands of mourners including Irish leaders and the country’s biggest celebrities have gathered to pay their respects to Shane MacGowan, the iconic singer of The Pogues, on Friday.
The irrepressible frontman, known for songs including “Fairytale of New York” and “Pair of Brown Eyes”, died last week aged 65. Songs by the band are already playing on loop in the town of Nenagh, where a public mass will be held on Friday at 3.30pm ahead of a private cremation.
It comes after his widow Victoria Mary Clarke said the cause of Shane’s death was pneumonia. MacGowan had suffered from a number of health issues over the years, and had recently been discharged from hospital in Dublin, where he was being treated for encephalitis.
She posted: “Shane hated funerals and he refused to go to them with a few rare exceptions.
“So it’s incredible to think that so many people want to come to his and that so many beautiful people are pouring their hearts and souls into making it magnificent and magical and memorable for him and for us who are left behind.”
The coffin arrives at the front of the church, and the Irish tricolour is removed and folded up.
A look from inside the church, where hundreds of mourners have gathered.
The hundreds packed into the church finally fall into a respectful silence as the last family and friends file in before Shane MacGowan’s coffin arrives.
You could hear a pin drop. A few jump as a priest coughs directly into the mic.
The order of service has been posted to social media, and details the people who will be reading and performing.
Bono, Bob Geldof, Johnny Depp, Aidan Gillen and Imelda May are among the figures billed to read passages and tributes.
Towards the end of the service, MacGowan’s sister Siobhan and widow Victoria Mary Clarke will deliver eulogies.
Grizzled old punks with purple hair are being let under the velvet rope to join the close friends and family seats with 300 reserved. Everyone else and it feels like the whole of Nenagh is to fend for themselves squeezing where they can.
Singer Glen Hansard, who will be performing, bursts in carrying a baby in a Christmas outfit and then runs out again in the confusion.
Order of service shows U2 frontman Bono will give a reading; Johnny Depp will deliver Prayers of the Faithful
An order of service document shows that U2 frontman Bono is to give a reading at the funeral of Shane MacGowan, while Hollywood actor Johnny Depp and Irish singer-songwriter Bob Geldof will deliver the Prayers of the Faithful.
Politician Gerry Adams seen arriving at funeral of Shane MacGowan
Gerry Adams has been seen arriving at the funeral of Shane MacGowan at St Mary’s of the Rosary in Nenagh.
All standing mourners told to leave church for fifth time to make way for arrival of casket
Families take selfies as all those standing are being told to leave the packed church for the fifth time as the final preparations are made for the arrival of Shane MacGowan.
“Timing is the essence we are making the final preparations now,” an announcer says to groans from the crowd.
Mourners hide behind pillars inside church despite being asked to leave
The aisles of the church are so packed with mourners that the MacGowan family and MacGowan’s casket will not be able to enter the church until they have left.
The mourners have been warned three times but some are still hiding behind pillars in a desperate bid to stay inside.
The Pogues band members Spider Stacy performs ‘Goodbye and Bless You All’ during soundcheck
Old friend and bandmate Spider Stacy then took over the vocals for The Pogues anthem “Goodbye and Bless You All” in another soundcheck.
An emotional time for Spider as he was also close friends with the late Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor, whose birthday is today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments