More than an hour before the funeral began, devoted supporters of MacGowan and the Pogues had gathered outside the church.
Actor Johnny Depp was a pallbearer, while Irish President Michael D. Higgins also came to St. Mary of the Rosary Church to pay his respects to MacGowan, who died on November 30.
He was 65 years old.
A handmade sign was placed on the side of the road near the church that read, “Thanks for all the fairy tales, Shane.”
James Grimes, who wore a The Pogues T-shirt and traveled from Longford to attend MacGowan's funeral, said the singer “changed my life for me” and that he had named his first son after MacGowan.
“I can still remember the first time I heard Fairytale Of New York,” he told the PA news agency.
“One evening I pressed the two buttons on the tape recorder to listen to it. The next morning I had an Irish test and listened to it over and over again until about 1.30am.”
He said MacGowan's poetry “along with the music” made him special to people.
“I suppose if you don't feel good, you look at him and say, 'Jesus, if he can do it, anyone can do it'.”
As the hearse carrying MacGowan's remains arrived at the church, his widow, Victoria Mary Clarke, bowed her head as she touched the coffin of the man she described as the love of her life.
Moments later, Depp waved to the crowd as he arrived.
The 60-year-old Pirates of the Caribbean star, a close friend of MacGowan, wore a black suit, hat, scarf and dark sunglasses on Friday.
Nick Cave arrives at the funeral of Shane MacGowan at Saint Mary's of the Rosary Church, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. (Image: Niall Carson)
The procession of familiar faces moved on: Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave, Hothouse Flowers frontman Liam O'Maonlai, Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie, Game Of Thrones actor Aidan Gillen and former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams.
Pastor Father Pat Gilbert captured the mood as he welcomed “the world” to the local church.
“We welcome the world of people this great man influenced, encouraged, entertained and touched,” he said.
“Your presence here is very important and a great expression of the love and appreciation that we all have and had for this great man.”
MacGowan's coffin was brought to the front of the church draped in an Irish tricolor flag and placed next to a large black and white photo of the Pogues singer.
MacGowan's widow Victoria Mary Clarke presented symbols of her late husband during the funeral mass, including a copy of a Depp album, whom she described as a “big fan” of The Pogues frontman.
A Led Zeppelin record, art and lyrics by MacGowan forming a Crock Of God book, a James Joyce novel, a hurling stick and a Tipperary flag were also among the items found at Saint Mary's of the Rosary Church in Nenagh.
Clarke was the last person to speak during the ceremony.
She said MacGowan had always hated funerals and appealed to people to show more compassion.
“Anyone who knew Shane knew how much he hated funerals. It was very hard to get him to go to one,” she said.
“He didn't like the thought of death, he didn't like talking about his own death.
“He was a genius, a beautiful soul and made a tremendous contribution.
“The next time you see someone and think they’re just an alcoholic or drug addict, stop.
“Just consider showing a little compassion and respect.
“That would be my final message.”
Comments are closed.