There was dancing in the aisles, Nick Cave singing “A Rainy Night in Soho” and Irish musicians Glen Hansard and Lisa O’Neill performing “Fairytale of New York” as mourners turned out Friday for the funeral of Shane MacGowan. Bono and Bob Geldof were also in attendance, while Johnny Depp was one of the pallbearers.
The Pogues frontman and Irish punk rock icon, who died Nov. 30 at 65, was celebrated at Saint Mary of the Rosary Church in his hometown of Negagh in the Irish county of Tipperary.
Before the funeral, a marching band and horsedrawn hearse led a funeral procession through the streets of Dublin, with hundreds of mourners singing along to Pogues songs.
“Can honestly say this is the first time I’ve ever seen dancing in the aisles at a funeral,” wrote Virgin Media’s Gavan Reilly.
Former members of the Pogues, including Jem Finer, Terry Woods, Spider Stacey and James Fearnley, played traditional tune “The Parting Glass” as one of the final songs of the service, the BBC reported.
MacGowan’s widow, Victoria Mary Clarke, gave a eulogy for her late husband during the funeral, saying, “Toward the end he just told everybody how much he loved them.”
She continued, “He was a genius, a beautiful soul and made a massive contribution. Next time you see someone and think they’re just an alcoholic or drug addict, stop. Just consider giving a bit of compassion and respect.”
MacGowan would have turned 66 on Christmas Day.
Watch more coverage of the funeral below: