Shane MacGowan’s family and friends, as well as The Pogues, are releasing the Irish Christmas classic "Fairytale of New York" as a 7” single with all profits from sales going to Dublin Simon Community - a charity loved and supported by MacGowan and his widow Victoria Mary Clarke.
And to celebrate MacGowan himself, they are backing the campaign to get "Fairytale of New York" to number one this Christmas.
The 7-inch vinyl single will come with "Fairytale of New York" on the A-side and an instrumental version of the track on the B-side.
The vinyl can be pre-ordered online via The Warner Music Shop; €6.90 from the sale of each product will be donated to the Dublin Simon Community, an Irish charity that works to end and prevent homelessness.
"We would like to say a huge thank you to The Pogues and Shane McGowan's family for their generosity in creating such a special legacy for Dublin Simon Community with this release," Emma Kilkenny, Head of Fundraising & Communications at Dublin Simon Community, said.
"Music is an emotional and visceral gift that can lift spirits and bring hope to people at their lowest point.
"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 regularly played at the Simon Community's annual Christmas Eve Busk in Dublin, which has seen famous musicians such as Bono, Dermot Kennedy, Glen Hansard, and Gavin James perform to raise vital funds for the homeless community in Ireland.
MacGowan's last public performance took place at the charity's Christmas Eve Busk in 2021 where he performed "Dirty Old Town."
(Skip ahead to 30:37 to see MacGowan's performance)
MacGowan, 65, died on Thursday, November 30, following a long battle with illness.
After a procession through Dublin, MacGowan's funeral Mass was held at St. Mary of the Rosary Church in his beloved Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
The funeral featured a string of live musical performances, including a rousing rendition of "Fairytale of New York" that saw people dancing in the aisles of the church:
That special moment when the outpouring of love for Shane couldn’t be held in anymore, when the wake gatecrashed the funeral mass & it was beautiful! Shane’s spirit was there for the world to see. Just how he wanted it - pure, spontaneous, celebratory, rebellious joy & love ?✊? pic.twitter.com/pwh6yPi9Kn
— Andy Nolan (@AndyNolanBCS) December 12, 2023
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