Shane MacGowan of The Pogues performs in London in December 2013.Photo:Joseph Okpako/Redferns via Getty
Joseph Okpako/Redferns via Getty
The lateShane MacGowanwanted to make sure his friends and family poured one out in his honor after his death.
The funeral for the Pogues frontman, whodied at age 65 in November, was held on Friday and his estate left behind €10,000 (or just over $10,000) for an open bar tab at his memorial,The Independentreports.
According to the outlet, 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
Martyn Goodacre/Getty
“It was Shane’s last request,” one of the Irish artist’s friends and “former drinking partners” toldThe Independentof how €10,000 had already been “handed over the counter for free beer.”
Several surviving members of The Pogues paid tribute to their late bandmate, whodied from complications of pneumoniaafter beingdiagnosed with encephalitisin 2022, at the memorial. Spider Stacy and Cait O’Riordan were said to have performed the Celtic punk group’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 to perform at the funeral service that day.
Shane MacGowan.Suzie Gibbons/Redferns
Suzie Gibbons/Redferns
Thousands reportedly gathered throughout Nenagh on Friday to watch the funeral procession and mourn the performer,per CNN. At the private service, stars likeU2frontmanBono, musicianNick Cave, formerGame of ThronesactorAiden Gillenand more paid their respects.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Along with an old black-and-white photo of the singer-songwriter, the Irish writer, 57, opened up in the caption about her loss and how her late husband had “meant the world to” her.
“Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love ❤️ of my life,” Clarke shared.
source: people.com
