Shane MacGowan's own songs played during intimate cremation ceremony

10 December 2023 , 16:37

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Shane MacGowan was cremated on Saturday - a day after his star-studded funeral ceremony (Image: PA)

The Pogues icon Shane MacGowan has been cremated following his star-studded funeral on Friday (December 8).

Hollywood actor Johnny Depp and singer-songwriter Nick Cave were amongst the famous faces to attend Shane's send-off in Nenagh, Co Tipperary after the Fairytale Of New York star passed away last month, aged 65. After the ceremony at the St. Mary of the Rosary church, his coffin was taken via hearse to Ryans Funeral Home, where it remained overnight.

On Saturday, meanwhile, Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny was one of a small number of guests who followed the vehicle in a cortege from the funeral home to Shannon Crematorium, Co Clare for a private cremation. There, several songs from Shane's illustrious career were played during the intimate ceremony.

The funeral procession of Shane MacGowan after crossing Mac Mahon Bridge in Dublin ahead of his funeral in Co Tipperary

There had been speculation the star's ashes were to be spread in the River Shannon. However, a source told Sunday World to the contrary: "The ashes won’t be given to the family until early next week. Shane’s wife still has to make up her mind what exactly she will do with them. She could scatter some on the Shannon, some put in with his mother in the family grave and some and maybe put in a memorial at home."

Taking to X (formerly Twitter ) before the cremation, meanwhile, Shane's widow Victoria Mary Clarke thanked those who had turned out on the day. "God bless everyone who showed up for Shane MacGowan yesterday, your time is precious and I appreciate you," she wrote.

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Shane MacGowan died in November 2023 (Getty Images)

Victoria had previously revealed her late spouse "hated funerals" and "didn't believe he was going to die". She added: "Shane hated funerals and he refused to go to them with a few rare exceptions. So it’s incredible to think that so many people want to come to his and that so many beautiful people are pouring their hearts and souls into making it magnificent and magical and memorable for him and for us who are left behind.

"I am feeling my heart bursting open in all directions with the amount of love that is being showered on us and most especially because everyone has their own problems and challenges and everyone has their own loved ones who they need to look after. He didn’t want to talk about his own death. He didn’t believe he was going to die ever. So it took us all by surprise because we really did believe he wasn’t going to die... it was a huge shock."

Shane had been blighted by illness and hospital stays in the latter years of his life, with a bout of viral encephalitis leaving him bedridden in intensive care earlier in 2023. In addition, he suffered a fall in 2015 in which he broke his pelvis, leading to worsening mobility in his final days.

Alan Johnson