Nick Cave, Johnny Depp and Bono were among the guests at a star-studded birthday concert for The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan on Monday evening.
The Fairytale Of New York singer – who turned 60 on Christmas Day – was celebrated by an array of musicians, film stars and even Irish President Michael D Higgins as he was honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the bash in Dublin’s National Concert Hall.
Sinead O’Connor, Imelda May and Glen Hansard all performed at the event which also saw an unlikely duet between Bono and Depp.
The Hollywood star jumped on the guitar for a rendition of The Pogues’ A Rainy Night In Soho while Cave and MacGowan teamed up for the band’s Summer In Siam.
MacGowan, who has experienced health problems in recent times, was brought on to the stage in his wheelchair where he joined Cave for the duet before embarking on a solo version of Will You Go Lassie Go.
#Shane60 finished off with the presentation of @nch_music Lifetime Achievement Award from @PresidentIRL a wonderful way to mark an amazing career. There he is being lauded by your O'Connors, your Depps, your Bonos, Dubliners, Pistols, May, Cave, Gillespie. An unbelievable night. pic.twitter.com/jhHkB6Ogwv
— Bill Gleeson (@gleesonb) January 16, 2018
The singer-songwriter was also presented with the National Concert Hall’s lifetime achievement award by Mr Higgins.
In a statement promoting the event, The Pogues said: “From A Pair Of Brown Eyes to Fairytale In New York, Shane MacGowan is widely recognised as a poet of modern music and one of the great international songwriters.
Yes so that's #Bono on vocals & Johnny Depp on guitars for Rainy Night in Soho #Shane60 pic.twitter.com/gfGZNKFwcV
— NationalConcertHall (@NCH_Music) January 15, 2018
“On Monday January 15 the National Concert Hall plays host to this renowned artist on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
“This concert as part of the NCH Perspectives Series celebrates the power and poetry of Shane’s work and his singular contribution to Irish music.”
Last year MacGowan’s mother Therese MacGowan died on New Year’s Day when the car she was driving struck a wall around 10km from the family home in Co Tipperary.