Shane MacGowan’s Family Dances to His Christmas Classic ‘Fairytale in New York’ at His Funeral

Shane MacGowan

On Friday, Dec. 8, The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan was laid to rest following his death on Nov. 30 at age 65.

Thousands gathered in Dublin, Ireland, for a funeral processional ahead of MacGowan's funeral service, in Nenagh, where family, friends and celebrities Johnny Depp and Nick Cave honored his life. However, MacGowan's memorial wasn't a solemn occasion—quite the opposite, actually—as the singer's family danced to his Christmas classic, "Fairytale in New York."

Footage of the jovial dancing by mourners, including his widow Victoria Mary Clarke, circulated on social media following MacGowan's funeral. On TikTok, one user declared the clip was "one of the best things you will see."

"This is the all funerals of people who lived a decent life should be," another TikTok user commented.

Yet another wrote, "celebration of life ?? for sure."

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In footage shared by the Irish Independent, more TikTok users reacted to the dancing.

One person commented, "what a send off ??pure class just like he would of liked it ??RIP SHANE MacGOWAN."

Another TikTok user wrote, "This is how you celebrate a life...R.I.P Shane McGowan. Thousands are with your wife and family and friends."

"That’s not a funeral, that’s a party for an awesome man! How every funeral should be??," another person commented.

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McGowan death came after he was recently hospitalized following a December 2022 encephalitis diagnosis.

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