In a poignant display of emotion, Johnny Depp bid farewell to his dear friend and Pogues lead singer, Shane MacGowan, as he tenderly touched the late musician’s coffin.
MacGowan died last week after battling pneumonia. Anticipation now surrounds the song’s ascent to Number One in the charts this season, honoring his legacy.
Having recently been discharged from the hospital after grappling with viral encephalitis, a condition causing brain swelling, MacGowan’s funeral took place at Saint Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
The ceremony drew celebrities like Nick Cave, Bob Geldof, and Johnny Depp, who, alongside Hothouse Flowers frontman Liam O’Maonlai, who participated in reading prayers of the faithful.
Depp, known for his role in the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ series, had a deep connection with MacGowan, having attended the singer’s wedding to Victoria Mary Clarke. The emotional service unfolded with MacGowan’s coffin draped in an Irish tricolour flag, positioned near a striking black and white photograph of the Pogues frontman.
During the proceedings, Depp was visibly moved as he gently patted the coffin, bidding a heartfelt farewell to his longtime friend. Later, he joined a group of men, including him, in carrying MacGowan’s coffin out of the service to resounding applause.
Victoria Mary Clarke, MacGowan’s widow, presented symbolic items during the funeral mass, including a Johnny Depp album. In addressing Depp directly, she shared a poignant moment when MacGowan encouraged Johnny Depp to forgive his ex-wife Amber Heard.
Amber Heard and Johnny Depp were engaged in a highly publicised legal dispute, settling their defamation claims against each other in December after years of acrimonious legal battles.
Clarke, visibly emotional, expressed how MacGowan’s sudden demise had taken everyone by surprise, stating that many had expected him to come home. The funeral drew an immense crowd with over 30,000 people, lining the streets of Dublin to say goodbye to him.
Gerry Adams, former Sinn Fein leader, delivered an opening speech at the funeral, praising MacGowan’s musical genius and asserting that his music would endure forever.
The funeral procession, featuring a horse-drawn carriage, traversed Dublin’s streets, providing devoted fans with a final opportunity to bid farewell. Mourners applauded as the procession passed iconic locations, with musicians playing MacGowan’s hits in his honor.
Amid tears and heartfelt renditions of Pogues’ classics, the funeral procession concluded, leaving behind a sense of loss for the legend that was Shane MacGowan.
