Shane MacGowan's €10,000 parting gift was The Pogues legend's epic last wish

13 December 2023 , 10:07

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Shane MacGowan's €10,000 parting gift was The Pogues legend's epic last wish

Shane MacGowan' s final gift to his loved ones has been revealed following the funeral of The Pogues frontman on Friday.

The folk singer died of pneumonia on November 30 at the age of 65, after being hospitalized last year for severe health issues. Shane was diagnosed with encephalitis, a rare but serious condition that refers to the inflammation of the brain, as well as shingles, and placed in an intensive care unit. He was discharged from hospital towards the end of November to be home for Christmas, but sadly passed away before the turn of the month.

Shane's funeral was a large-scale affair, starting with a procession in Dublin that travelled to Nenagh, Tipperary, for the musician's Requiem Mass. The public service was attended by hundreds of mourners, including high-profile celebrities like Johnny Depp, Bob Geldof and Imelda May. A rendition of The Pogues' 1998 Christmas hit, Fairytale of New York, was sung by Glen Hansard and Lisa O'Neill, while Nick Cave performed Shane's 1986 song, A Rainy Night in Soho.

Shane MacGowan's funeral was followed by a free bar with a tab worth £10k

A recording of U2 frontman Bono reciting a Letter of St Paul's to the Corinthians was also played, and an emotional eulogy was delivered by Shane's partner, Victoria Mary Clarke, who called him "a genius" and "a beautiful soul" as she reflected on his colourful life.

After the funeral, family and friends moved on to The Thatched Cottage in Nenagh on Friday 8 December to continue the celebrations of the iconic singer's life. It's understood that Shane, who was known for his complicated relationship with alcohol, had put a €10,000 (£8,600) tab behind the bar for guests to enjoy free drinks.

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"I know the pub they are going to for the meal after there has already been €10,000 handed over the counter for free beer – it was Shane’s last request,’ a former drinking companion of Shane told The Independent. The exclusive event was guarded by 10 bouncers and required guests to have pre-prepared lanyards to gain entry. "It is a beautiful place just outside of town but there is only a limited amount of people allowed,’ the source added.

Johnny Depp was one of the celebrities to attend Shane's funeral (sky news)

The social, which began at 6pm on Friday and last until sunrise, saw a slew of famous faces including Johnny Depp, Primal Scream member Bobby Gillespie and Glen Hansard. It's understood that Glen played Fairytale of New York once again for the mourners inside the bar, just hours after he'd performed it alongside Lisa in the church. Meanwhile, another gathering was held at Philly's Bar, which is owned by the funeral undertaker and lifelong pal of Shane, Philip ‘Philly’ Ryan.

Emma Dooney