Shane MacGowan’s widow Victoria Mary Clarke responds to priest’s criticism of star’s funeral… after calling song and dance service ‘an inappropriate scandal’

Shane MacGowan’s widow, Victoria Mary Clarke, has responded to criticism of the star’s funeral by sharing a sweet post praising the ‘magical’ event.

Earlier this week, Belfast Father Paddy McCafferty castigated Shane’s star-studded funeral, where a live band played his 1988 hit Fairytale Of New York as mourners danced at Saint Mary Of The Rosary Church in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.

After Father McCafferty called the festivities “a scandal,” Victoria took to Instagram to share a heartwarming photo of her staring into Shane’s eyes as they lovingly held each other alongside a touching caption.

Victoria thanked Shane’s ‘generous’ friends, family and fans for their support following the star’s death at the age of 65 from pneumonia on November 30.

She captioned the photo: ‘I just wanted to thank you for so many lovely messages of support, I know you all have plenty of problems and challenges to think about…

It came after priest Father Paddy McCafferty (pictured in 2020) branded the star-studded funeral a “scandal” and said the inclusion of The Pogues’ festive 1998 classic Fairytale of New York was “totally out of place”.

The Pogues frontman died of pneumonia on November 30 at the age of 65 after months of ill health (pictured in 2014)

MacGowan’s smiling widow Victoria gave a thumbs up and a big smile as the Pogue singer’s funeral began

‘You are all so generous and kind, thoughtful and compassionate and I am so grateful to you. Take a moment to appreciate yourself!!! Sharing love in this world is the most beautiful thing you can do and the most valuable…

‘I also want you to know that you really don’t have to be sad for me because @shanemacgowen is still very much with me at every moment and I feel very connected to him and I feel enormous love ❤️ and encouragement from him and I feel his sense of humor and his pure joy and presence as if he is truly a part of me and he will never leave me because he is in my heart…

“I love that so many of you are celebrating his music and his life and his warmth and compassion and grace and beauty and it’s powerful to see…

‘There are many people I would like to thank individually for making his funeral so special and magical and I will probably continue to do so for a long time!!!! Bless everyone everywhere, always ❤️ photo by @andrewcatlin’.

The widow shared her heartfelt message after a priest branded the star-studded funeral a ‘scandal’ and said the inclusion of The Pogues’ 1988 festive classic Fairytale of New York was ‘completely out of place’.

“The words used in that song and in the church show no understanding of the sacredness of what the place is and the sacredness of the Mass,” Father McCafferty told Belfast Live.

“It was, to say the least, completely inappropriate, to the point of scandal, and something must be done about these so-called celebrity funerals in a Catholic church…

“We are not there to entertain, we are there to celebrate the worship of God and lead people in the worship of God. I wouldn’t allow that in my church.”

A photo of the late Irish singer Shane MacGowan is shown on the day of his funeral procession in Tipperary, Ireland

MacGowan is pictured with his wife before his death last week

MacGowan, who died after a battle with pneumonia, is best known for the Christmas classic Fairytale Of New York, which is expected to reach number one in the charts over the festive period.

The Irish singer had been released from hospital more than a week earlier after undergoing treatment for viral encephalitis, a condition that causes swelling in the brain.

His funeral took place on December 8.

The service in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was well attended by celebrities including Johnny Depp, who carried his coffin, Nick Cave and Bob Geldof.

Johnny was joined by Liam O’Maonlai, frontman of Irish band Hothouse Flowers, as they read out the prayers of the faithful during the service.

During the service, Johnny paused as he touched the casket of his friend and Pogues singer.

Shane’s coffin was brought to the front of the church, draped in an Irish tricolor flag and placed close to a large black and white photo of him.

Later, a group of men, including Johnny, helped carry Shane’s casket from the service to loud applause.

The service at Saint Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was well attended by celebrities including Nick Cave, Bob Geldof and Johnny Depp

Fans reached out to touch the carriage containing MacGowan’s body as it passed through Dublin on Friday