Watch live: Hundreds gather in Nenagh for funeral of Shane MacGowan
The funeral mass for Shane MacGowan has begun at Saint Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
The songwriter, who found fame as the lead singer of punk/folk The Pogues, died at the age of 65 last week.
MacGowan’s coffin was brought to the front of the church draped in an Irish tricolour flag and placed close to a large black and white photograph of the Pogues singer.
Before the mass in Tipperary, mourners lined the streets of Dublin to say an emotional goodbye to MacGowan at a public procession ahead of his funeral.
President Michael D Higgins, former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, Liam O Maonlai, lead singer of the Hothouse Flowers and Game Of Thrones star Aiden Gillen are among those who are at the funeral.
Following the funeral mass, the public will have the opportunity to pay their respects as the funeral cortege moves through Nenagh town centre from Church Road to Market Cross.
A private cremation will follow.
Picture: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie
Picture: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie
MacGowan was born to Irish parents in 1957 in Pembury, Kent, and he soon moved to rural Tipperary where he was immersed in a culture of ceili bands and showbands.
The Pogues frontman, best known for the hit festive song Fairytale Of New York, died “peacefully” at 3am on November 30 with his wife and family by his side, a statement from his relatives said.
He was due to celebrate his 66th birthday on Christmas Day.
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