Shane MacGowan funeral: Mourners line the streets of Ireland ahead of funeral for the late Pogues singer after his death aged 65

Thousands of mourners have gathered in the streets of Dublin to pay their final farewell to Irish punk icon Shane MacGowan.

To give as many people as possible the opportunity to pay their respects to the Pogues’ frontman, the cortege carrying the legendary singer, will travel through Dublin before going on to Tipperary where he will be cremated.

MacGowan, who died last week at the age of 65, was one of Ireland’s favourite sons despite being born in Kent, and was behind the beloved Christmas anthem Fairytale of New York.

The funeral is being organised by local undertaker and his friend Phillip Ryan. The singer’s remains are being carried in a horse drawn carriage around south Dublin, where he lived with wife Victoria, accompanied by the Artane Band which was founded in 1871 and a piper.

Police sealed off much of the area around Ballsbridge a few miles from the city centre as fans began gathering, with Johnny Depp, Nick Cave and President Michael D Higgins among those expected to attend the star’s funeral.

Shane begun his journey by horse-drawn carriage from South Lotts Road, and will travel down Pearse Street and onto Westland Row, giving fans who loved him dearly the chance to say a final goodbye. 

Mourners applauded as the funeral procession passed McMahon Bridge in Dublin, with the sounds of Fairytale of New York and A Rainy Night in Soho ringing out from speaker in honour of the fallen musician.

Among them was fellow musician Patrick McGuinness, 66, who played bass guitars in pubs at Ballsbridge where Shane also played.

Mr McGuinness said: ‘Shane was a legend. He was a poet and he was a son of Ireland who everyone loved.

‘His music will live on for centuries as will the love for him.’

Local café owner Joanne Moran said: ‘Shane was an international figure, but Dublin was his home and you would see him walking around just like everybody else.

‘It is a sad day and we have to show our love for Victoria and his family. They are part of the community and we feel so much sympathy for them.’

Aidan Grimes, 60, described MacGowan as an icon and said: ‘I remember the first time I saw The Pogues in the Hammersmith Odeon in 1985. It is imprinted in my mind forever, just the madness and mayhem, the raucous nature of his singing and the music they were playing.

‘Through the years he evolved into a great poet and he will be sadly missed.

‘I met him in Dublin about 15 years ago and he was a very charming, nice, friendly man. He talked about music and his time in London.

‘I thought it was important to pay my respects. He was an icon of Dublin, just like Brendan Behan, Luke Kelly. His music will be listened to in 100 years’ time.’

Kevin Sexton from Co Fermanagh said MacGowan opened doors for Irish people living in England.

‘He made Irish people proud to be Irish at a time in London when it was a very difficult time to be Irish.

‘The Troubles were in full tilt. A lot of terrible things happened.

‘Shane MacGowan opened doors. He introduced Irish culture and his own unique writing ability and voice and style that opened up a mix of Irish music plus rock plus punk, his whole unique persona transformed into song that enlightened the world.’

Darragh McColgan from Dublin said MacGowan was a genius.

He added: ‘To me he was all about culture, the energy of it, it was representative to me of what being Irish is.

‘It will be a day we knew was coming but it won’t be easy to deal with because of what a big impact he was.’

Robert Mateer said: ‘ It is a very sad day. Shane has been part of the tapestry of Irish music for decades as well as part of the community. He will always be missed.’

Pogues fan Brenda Murphy, 38, waved a poster of Shane and said: ‘He was such a gentle soul. He would always say hello and smile despite the fact that he was poorly.

‘I had heard some amazing stories about him drinking in pubs around here and playing in The Ship pub with The Dubliners.

‘He had had his drinking problems and people would see him with what looked like a pint of water, but it was neat vodka.

‘But he wasn’t like that in terms of the hell-raising rock star. Shane was a deeply religious man and a good man who loved his wife and who loved Ireland.

‘It has been a terrible year with losing Sinead O’Connor a few months back and now Shane. It is fitting that today would have been Sinead’s birthday and Shane is joining her in heaven in the Lord’s arms.’

After the Dublin procession, the singer’s funeral was switching to Nenagh, Tipperary, where a mass was to be held followed by cremation.

Shane classic tune Fairytale of New York is set to top the Christmas pop charts for the first time but he himself was not a big fan of the tune, Mr Ryan revealed.

Despite its annual appearance in the Christmas charts since 2005 and an Xmas tradition since its release 35 years ago, Shane did not want to be remembered for it.

Mr Ryan, who runs a pub in Nenagh and is lead undertaker at Shane’s funeral told Mail Online: ‘He thought the Fairytale of New York was just a Christmas song and he didn’t care much for it.

‘When he was in Nenagh he would come into the pub regularly and I had known him since 1987 and he would sing sometimes with the bands here, but he never sang Fairy Tale in New York.

‘If he saw a band on stage, he would sometimes get up on stage and support them to give them confidence, but he would not sing Fairytale.’

The song is set to top the charts for the first time and a number one slot for the song which was recorded with the late Kirsty MacColl, who 23 years ago in Mexico, has been supported by Shane’s widow Victoria.

It has already entered the top five and is expected to reach number one after his funeral tomorrow in time for Christmas Day, which would have been his 66th birthday

She posted a heartbreaking message about her late husband on social media today thanking his fans for the support she had received and paying tribute to the love he gave her.

‘It’s incredible to think that so many people want to come to his (funeral) 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.

‘I feel that Shane is with me all the time and that he is feeling intense appreciation and gratitude and that he is still sending love to everyone and maybe in a more powerful way from where he is now.

‘I couldn’t have possibly asked for a more precious and enduring love affair as a human and I got so much from my relationship with Shane that it would be greedy to want more!

‘I would love to say to anyone who is in a relationship with someone who has problems with addiction or anxiety or depression to please get healing and help for yourself, and to take care of yourself and you will find that it gives you the strength to keep going and to be able to enjoy.

‘And to anyone who is in fear of losing someone just know that millions of angels are watching you and supporting you.’

She said Shane did not like funerals, but added:’But if you want to remember him, the next time you see a homeless person stop and give them your time and your compassion and your respect and treat them like a brother or a sister.’

Mr Ryan added: ‘He hated the whole celebrity thing and was one of the most humble people you could meet. ‘He was kind, sincere, and quite a shy man.

‘He would not listen to songs by his band The Pogues and if he heard one, he would ask me to put music on my cellphone and to turn it up.

‘He much preferred to hear Seán Ó Riada live at the Gayatri and he would ask people to be quiet so he could listen to the music on the phone.’

Mr Ryan said the singer had been desperately unwell this year and in terrible pain. You don’t want to see anybody like that.

‘I don’t like to say it, but it his passing is in some ways a Godsend as he does not have to suffer any more. The poor fellow was very sick.

‘I have known him for many years and I will miss him a great deal, and so will many other people in Nenagh.’

The singer had asked his friend to conduct his funeral in 2017 while at his wife Victoria’s birthday after they were at a Black Sabbath gig in Dublin.

The singer requested private prayers with his family and then a public mass a private cremation. His ashes will scattered on the Shannon which inspired his song ‘The Broad Majestic Shannon.’

Shane, who was 65, died from pneumonia last week, after being wheelchair bound and in poor health for years.

A wake will be held in Mr Ryan’s pub once the service has concluded.

Dublin’s pubs are also expected to be busy raising glasses to the Pogues star.