Pogues Frontman Shane MacGowan Left Behind over $10K for a Bar Tab at His Funeral: ‘It Was Shane’s Last Request’

The late Shane MacGowan wanted to make sure his friends and family poured one in his honor after his death.

The funeral of the Pogues frontman, who died aged 65 in November, was held on Friday, and his estate left €10,000 (or just over $10,000) for an open bar at his memorial. The Independent reports.

According to media reports, family and friends mourned and celebrated the life of the “Fairytale of New York” singer at one of his favorite bars, The Thatched Cottage, in Nenagh, Ireland.

Shane MacGowan in Ireland in 1997.

Martyn Goodacre/Getty

Shane MacGowan, singer of ‘Fairytale of New York’ and frontman of the Pogues, died at 65.

“It was Shane’s last request,” said one of the Irish artist’s friends and “former drinking partners”. The Independent that 10,000 euros have already been “handed over to the counter for free beer”.

Several famous friends are said to have visited the pub, including Johnny Depp, Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie, the singer’s Pogues bandmates, fellow Irish artist Glen Hansard, as well as his wife Victoria Mary Clarke, among others.

Several surviving members of The Pogues paid tribute to their late bandmate, who died of complications from pneumonia after being diagnosed with encephalitis in 2022, at the memorial. Spider Stacy and Cait O’Riordan reportedly performed the Celtic punk band’s song “The Body of an American”.

Hansard, 53, also played the band’s beloved hit “Fairytale of New York,” which he also teamed up with Irish singer-songwriter Lisa O’Neill for a performance at the funeral service that day.

Shane McGowan.

Suzie Gibbons/Redferns

Pogues frontman and ‘Fairytale of New York’ singer Shane MacGowan’s cause of death revealed

According to The Independentfans of MacGowan also gathered at the same time for an unofficial memorial at nearby Philly’s Bar, owned by a friend of the late rocker Philip “Philly” Ryan.

Thousands reportedly gathered across Nenagh on Friday to watch the funeral procession and mourn the performer, CNN reports. In private service, stars like U2 frontman Bono, musician Nick Cave, ex Game of Thrones actor Aiden Gillen and others paid tribute to them.

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MacGowan died in hospital surrounded by loved ones on November 30. His wife confirmed his death on Instagram, sharing that he “went to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful Mother Teresa.”

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Alongside an old black-and-white photo of the singer-songwriter, the Irish writer (57) opened up about her loss and how her late husband “meant the world” to her.

“Shane who will always be the light I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love ❤️ of my life,” Clarke said.

“I am indescribably blessed to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love ❤️ and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures,” she continued. “There is no way to describe the loss I feel and the longing for just one more of his smile that lit up my world.”

After writing that his presence and music made the world brighter, she concluded by saying that MacGowan “will live on in [her] heart forever.” She added: “Rave in the rain-soaked garden you loved so much.”

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Source: HIS Education