A right old hoolie at Shane MacGowan's wake
A MEMORABLE wake for Shane MacGowan was staged in the Thatched Cottage in Ballycommon following his funeral in Nenagh on Friday week last.
Several hundred people gathered at the renowned pub and restaurant, which had been booked out exclusively to stage a fitting send-off for Shane. Among them were musicians from all over the country, many of whom had performed at the funeral Mass in Nenagh earlier that day.
“It was some night,” said Noreen Cavanagh, reflecting on one of the undoubted highlights of the 15 years she has been running The Thatch. “The talent: The Coronas, The Pogues, Mundy, Sharon Shannon, Imelda May...
“None of it was rehearsed. They just got up and sang. Imelda May did a bit of poetry as well as singing. Sharon Shannon joined in for most of the gig. Glen Hansard was there and he sang. Dave Fanning was there and he sang.”
Noreen also got to meet Johnny Depp at The Thatch. Depite being obviously very busy on the night, she managed to get a few words with Shane's most famous friend. “He told me that he loves Ireland the he loves the hospitality of the people and the warm welcome. He said he loved Ballycommon too and the relaxed atmosphere, and ‘the wake’. And it was a proper wake - food, drink and music. It was a typical Irish wake.”
Noreen told of how The Thatched Cottage “ticked the boxes” for the funeral party. “Because that's what they were looking for. Shane MacGowan wasn't into five-star hotels. He was into casual.”
She served what she described as “posh finger food”, which was carried around on trays by the staff as Shane's family and friends mingled or struck up another tune. Chicken skewers, scampi and chips in cones were among the options. “What they wanted to create was a situation where everybody was able to move and eat, and not be confined to one place.”
She spoke of an interesting mix of fashion among the attendance. “They were all really nice people,” Noreen said. An extended licence for the premises had been granted at Nenagh District Court and the bar was closed around 1.30am.
Many of the group, including Aidan Gillen and his wife, came back again the following day for their lunch.
‘JOYOUS FUNERAL’
A local man who attended the spectacular music-filled event contacted The Guardian on Monday to say it was the best function he ever attended.
“It went on into the small hours and was the most joyous funeral ever - a true celebration of Shane's life,” he revealed to The Guardian. “It was some event. It was something special and was all done with the utmost respect and the upmost class,” he commented, adding, “I will never forget it as long as I live.”
Our source, who did not wish to be named, said that The Thatch did some job to make it memorable. Those present were served what he described as an array of “exquisite finger food” by Manager Noreen Cavanagh and her staff.
“The entire wake went off like clockwork. The Pogues played all their old songs and some from The Clash. It was just incredible.”
The source said he had been to many concerts in his lifetime “but this was my favourite musical event ever. It was sublime.” One local musician who featured was James McGrath, a son of Nenagh councillor Hughie, who is also well known as a musician with local bands down through the years. Glen Hansard was the main organiser of the music in The Thatch, and our source revealed that Sharon Shannon “played like she was on fire”.
Others attending were the late musician’s wife Victoria Mary Clarke, along with his sister Siobhan and husband Anthony, who live in nearby Dromineer.
Meanwhile, the remains of Shane MacGowan were taken for cremation to Shannon Crematorium by local undertaker Philly Ryan on Saturday. There are reports that his ashes may be spread at a later date on Lough Derg, the waterway made famous by the late singer in the song ‘The Broad Majestic Shannon’.