Shane MacGowan's Funeral Reminded Everyone That Nobody Celebrates The Dearly Departed Quite Like The Irish

Rear Admiral12/10/2023 2:30 AM

Shane MacGowan, Ireland's punk poet laureate who wrote for and fronted the island's seminal band, was feted yesterday at his beautifully boisterous, standing room only funeral at St Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, County Tipperary. While there were obviously moments of sadness during the Mass, it was far from a somber affair. Rather, it was a genuine celebration that was as spirited and unique as MacGowan's time on Earth.

Still, I don't know that anyone anticipated the festive and loving scene that occurred when Glen Hansard and Lisa O'Neill joined the surviving and reunited Pogues to deliver a stirring rendition of the band's seasonally appropriate hit "Fairytale of New York". I mean, how does this not bring a smile to your face?

Spider Stacy and The Pogues sang "The Parting Glass" as well.

And it wasn't just inside the church that fans and Irish citizens paid tribute…

Even though I tapped out on what Joe Kennedy famously referred to as "Catholic gobbledygook" many moons ago, I still find the wake-and-funeral grieving process to be incredibly cathartic and helpful went it comes to a final farewell. Then, of course, there's the many beers, shots, stories, tears, and laughs down at the hall after all of the ceremonies are done. And I don't know that there's an ethnic group that knows how send their kith and kin off to the afterworld quite like the denizens of this gorgeous and scenic island.

To paraphrase an old quote from the classic NBC comedy "Night Court", the Irish put the F-U-N in funeral. And they gave a loving tribute to one of their favorite sons, a goodbye that moved millions around the globe, as tears streaked down their smiling cheeks.

Farewell to a one-of-a-kind legend, his legacy will live on forever.