Former Birr priest will be the chief celebrant at Shane MacGowan's funeral

A priest who was based in Birr for several decades is set to be chief celebrant at the funeral of singer Shane MacGowan on Friday.

Fr Pat Gilbert, who was a hugely popular chaplain in Birr Community School for many years, will preside over the funeral in the Saint Mary of the Rosary Church, Nenagh, on what is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at 3.30pm.

It is open to the public and expected to be attended by a large crowd, including leading figures from the music industry and fans, who will gather to pay their respects to the Pogues frontman who died last Thursday, age 65.

Prior to the funeral in Nenagh, a funeral procession will take place through the south inner city of Dublin, not far from where 'The Fairytale of New York' singer lived in Ballsbridge with his wife Victoria Mary Clarke.

A horse-drawn carriage will be led by the Artane Band and a piper and will travel through Ringsend and Pearse Street from 10.30am to 11.45am. Following this, the hearse and family cars will depart for Nenagh.

Fr Pat Gilbert is co-parish priest in the North Tipperary town where the MacGowan family have strong links. His mother grew up nearby and it where father Maurice still lives. His sister Siobhan lives in nearby Dromineer on the shores of Lough Derg. .

Fr Pat Gilbert, who was a very popular figure in Birr's only secondary school for many years, retired as school chaplain in 2021. Currently co-parish priest in Nenagh, he and his clerical colleagues also minister in the Portroe, Puckane, Silvermines, Templederry and Youghalarra areas.