Proceeds from the seven-inch vinyl will benefit Dublin Simon Community, an organization fighting homelessness, which the late frontman supported
The Pogues are reissuing their drunk tank Christmas classic, “Fairytale of New York,” on seven-inch vinyl with proceeds benefiting a charity long supported by late frontman Shane MacGowan.
The new seven-inch is available to pre-order now, and £6 (about $7.50) from each sale will be donated to the Dublin Simon Community, which works to end and prevent homelessness. MacGowan frequently performed at the Dublin Simon Community’s annual Christmas Eve Busk — and in fact his last public performance before his death occurred at the 2021 event.
“Music is an emotional and visceral gift that can lift spirits and bring hope to people at their lowest point,” said Emma Kilkenny, Head of Fundraising and Communications at Dublin Simon Community. “We share the truly magical memory of Shane’s performance at the very special Christmas Busk recorded in St Patrick’s Cathedral during Covid lockdown. The Christmas Eve Busk is a beating heart at the core of Dublin Simon’s fundraising and Shane was always a very welcome and truly amazing addition to this special event.”
MacGowan died of complications from pneumonia on Nov. 30 at the age of 65. The musician’s funeral took place in St. Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, Ireland on Dec. 8, with thousands of fans appearing to pay their respects, while inside mourners included Nick Cave, Bob Geldof, and Ireland’s President Michael D. Higgins.
The funeral featured several musical performances, including Cave’s cover of the Pogues song “A Rainy Night in Soho”; Cait O’Riordan and John Francis Flynn’s rendition of the traditional, “I’m a Man You Don’t Meet Every Day” (which the Pogues recorded in 1985); and Glen Hansard and Lisa O’Neill’s version of “Fairytale of New York.”
Following the funeral, a private wake was held at a nearby pub that MacGowan liked to frequent. And, according to a new report from The Independent, it was MacGowan who posthumously picked up the tab. One attendee told the paper, “I know the pub they are going to for the meal after there has already been €10,000 handed over the counter for free beer — it was Shane’s last request.”