My Christmas Day choice: Sunnyvista by Richard and Linda Thompson, and Lindisfarne's Broon
The Young ‘Uns do Christmas their way

A ‘Fairytale’ ending for Shane MacGowan

Continuing our series of small Salut! Live Christmas treats, today’s contribution manages to combine another tribute to Shane MacGowan with another version of ‘Fairytale of New York’ — played by some of the many Irish musicians at his packed funeral service.

Those of us who saw Shane MacGowan and the Pogues play in their punk-folk pomp in the 1980s could hardly have imagined that when he died his funeral would more or less be a state occasion in Ireland.

ShaneMacGowanImage: David McMahon

But people lined the streets to pay their respects and the funeral, in Nenagh, County Tipperary, was attended by the Irish President, Michael Higgins, Hollywood royalty in the shape of Johnny Depp, and a host of musicians, including Nick Cave and fellow members of the Pogues, who played MacGowan’s songs. (Cave’s version of Rainy Night in Soho from the funeral is here.) The funeral was filmed by Ireland’s public broadcaster, RTE.

But the highlight of this was almost certainly a version of Fairytale of New York, with Glen Hansard and Lisa O’Neill doing a fine rendition of the two lead parts. See what you think.

 

https://youtu.be/idGZLKX7pfw?si=TWzTZKGrpxmuNs5Z

Comments

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Working...
Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been posted. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Working...

Post a comment

Your Information

(Name and email address are required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.)