Farewell to our Shane

Thousands of people are expected to gather in Nenagh this Friday for the funeral of Shane MacGowan when his remains return to the town he loved so well.

The Funeral Mass for The Pogues lead singer, who died on Thursday last at the age of 65, will be celebrated in Saint Mary of the Rosary Church at 3.30pm – just 15 minutes drive from the townland of Carney where Shane spent the first six years of his life.

The Chief Celebrant will be the Parish Priest of Nenagh, Fr Pat Gilbert, and the Requiem Mass will be attended by many famous singers, musicians and top political figures.

The funeral is expected to be one of the largest ever witnessed in Nenagh as legions of fans of the late singer gather to pay their last respects.

Joining them will be huge numbers of people from the town and surrounding countryside who will be attending to pay a final homage to a man they consider to be one of their own.

The planning for the funeral is being managed by local undertaker Philly Ryan, one of the many local friends of Shane.

The late singer’s remains will be brought from Nenagh to Dublin on Friday morning for a procession thought the streets of the capital.

They will arrive back in Nenagh at approximately 3.15pm to be welcomed into the town by huge crowds of mourners.

The funeral cortège will enter the town from the Thurles Road intersection on the M7, and there will be a procession through Kenyon Street, Pearse Street and Church Road before the coffin is taken into the church for the Mass at 3.30pm.

Traffic restrictions have been put in place in the town on Friday for the funeral and arrangements made for members of the public to pay their respects.

A private cremation will take place after the funeral.