Shane MacGowan - Thousands of fans at funeral procession before the funeral
Thousands of people gathered on the streets of Dublin today (Friday, December 8) to bid farewell to Shane MacGowan (1957-2023). The frontman of Irish band The Pogues, who became famous above all as the songwriter of the Christmas song "Fairytale Of New York", died on November 30 at the age of 65.
According to media reports, MacGowan's coffin was pulled through the capital by four horses on a carriage and was covered with an Irish flag. An old black and white photo on the carriage shows the musician as a young man with a cigarette in his hand. The funeral procession was led by the traditional Irish band Artane in their blue uniforms.
Private funeral and public memorial service for Shane MacGowan
According to the BBC, the coffin will then be taken by hearse to the town of Nnagh, around 160 kilometers away, where MacGowan spent a lot of time as a child. The musician's funeral will begin at 3:30 p.m. (local time) in the local church of St. Mary's of the Rosary.
In addition to family and friends, numerous Irish politicians and big names from the music industry are expected to attend the ceremony, including U2 frontman Bono (63), musician Nick Cave (66) and actor Johnny Depp (60). After the private funeral in a close circle, there will be a public memorial service.
Widow Victoria Mary Clarke is touched
Shane MacGowan's wife Victoria Mary Clarke (57) announced the singer's death on Instagram. She told the New York Times that her husband had died of pneumonia. He had been suffering from encephalitis, a disease that affects the nervous system, for several years.
The day before his funeral, she reflected on Instagram: "Tomorrow is Shane's funeral, it's hard to believe and I probably won't believe it for a while. (...) It's 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."
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Source: www.stern.de
