by A star-studded congregation got to their feet and danced to the Pogues’ classic tale of New York as singer Shane MacGowan was laid to rest on Friday.
Friends and family of the Pogues frontman – from actor Johnny Depp to musicians Bob Geldof and Nick Cave, and even the president of Ireland – filled St Mary’s Church in Rossann in Fair, Co. Tipperary, to show respect.
Many stood and swayed, as family members danced in the aisles to a rendition of MacGowan’s 1987 Christmas concert sung by Irish singer-songwriters Glen Hansard and Lisa O’Neil.
“Wow, I think Shane would enjoy that,” said his sister Siobhan as she stood to applaud after the performance. “That’s something for my brother, so thank you.”
The frontman, who died aged 65 last week after a battle with pneumonia, “dreamed of one day being a storyteller, a singer of songs, he dreamed of following in the footsteps of lyricists and musicians Great Irish people who respected him so much”, said Ms McGowan.
“You did what you said you were going to do long ago in Tipperary and you did it with heart and fire,” she said, to cheers and applause from the church.
Gerry Adams, the former leader of Sinn Féin, said that McGann’s music would “live on forever” as he addressed the funeral, which was broadcast live around the world.
“You are the measure of our dreams,” he said. “My words are words of thanks, thanks for Shane’s genius, for his songs, his creativity and his attitude.”
Pirates of the Caribbean actor Johnny Depp, a close friend of MacGowan and his wife Victoria, read the Prayer of the Faithful in honor of the musician.
A record with Depp, who attended their wedding in 2018, was earlier placed at the altar as a symbol of Smith’s life. The musician loved his friend’s music and “the sound of the guitar”, said Victoria Mary Clarke, McGoff’s wife.
Almost everyone who attended their wedding was present at the funeral, she said.
In addition, in front of the church was the Pogues’ first record, Led Zeppelin’s album, as well as a Tipperary flag, which was applauded.
Among the symbolic items brought in to celebrate his life was the Casio keyboard MacGowan used to write his breakthrough Summer in Siam in 1990.
Australian musician Nick Cave, 66, performed the classic Pogues love song Rainy Night in Soho, while Mundy and Camille O’Sullivan sang Haunted.
U2 frontman Bono, who was unable to make the service, played his recorded tribute to MacGowan for the church.
While delivering Father Pat Gilbert, Father Pat Gilbert said that MacGowan had made Gaelic music wonderful throughout the world.
He said: “As teenagers, unable to express our uneasiness, dissatisfaction, our uncomfortable assessment of what was happening around us, we found an outlet, a channel, a conduit in the music and lyric of the day.
“In the words of Dickens, ‘It was the best of times and it was the worst of times’. But the music and the lyrics were great, and Shane was the master of them all.”
The funeral service was the culmination of a day of mourning across Ireland.
In Dublin, mourners gathered in their thousands, singing the band’s songs as a horse-drawn glass car carried McGoff’s remains through the city, his coffin decorated with three-colour photos of Ireland and black-and-white photographs of the singer. in his youth.
Among those who managed to pay their respects was Aidan Grimes, 60, who described MacGowan as an icon.
He said: “I remember the first time I saw The Pogues at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1985. It’s etched in my mind forever, just the madness and the chaos, the chaotic nature of his singing and the music which they were playing.
“I thought it was important to pay my respects. He was an icon of Dublin, just like Brendan Behan, Luke Kelly. His music will be heard in 100 years.”
The funeral was held on what would have been Sinead O’Connor’s 57th birthday. The Irish singer, who was close friends with MacGowan, died earlier in 2023.
Depp was among those given the responsibility of carrying Smith’s coffin from the church.
One of the last musical tributes was to former members of The Pogues – Jem Finer, Terry Woods, Spider Stacey and James Fearnley. They played The Parting Glass, a traditional Scottish song that is often sung in Ireland at the end of a gathering of friends.
