A HEARTWARMING video captures the moment a Belfast boozer comes together for a rendition of Fairytale of New York in tribute to Shane MacGowan.
MacGowan, 65, passed away from pneumonia last month but left a lasting legacy on music and Christmas itself, with a newfound surge for his penned classic to hit number one this year.
The love for the former Pogues frontman was felt in a Belfast Christmas market on Saturday, when pubgoers held their own dedication to MacGowan.
Heartwarming footage shows the small pub in Belfast, Northern Ireland filled with punters, drinks and a warm atmosphere.
The interior is decked out with Christmas decorations and green fairy lights, with blue banners draped from the ceiling bearing the logo for Hofbräu München beer.
Fairytale of New York by The Pogues plays in background as drinkers clap along to the music.
The camera pans around to show the extent of the packed pub, with countless boozers joining in on the verse.
The song then comes to the chorus as one woman, standing at her table, eggs on her fellow pubgoers, who lift up their voices.
The crowd belts out the chorus in synchronisation before the instrumental kicks in and the mass of drinkers sway along.
The heartwarming footage was shared to social media by user Karl on Saturday, where it received over 4,580 likes and dozens of comments from users left moved by the clip.
One user wrote: “In the middle of Belfast, all religions and cultures. This is absolutely brilliant. Shane, what a man. RIP.”
Another said: “Fantastic. A great feel-good song for Christmas. RIP Shane.”
A third commented: “I love my wee country, Northern Ireland.”
Another added: “Fun, fun, fun. Shane [would have] loved it.”
Fairytale of New York was written and released in 1987, sung by MacGowan and featured artist Kirsty MacColl – who died after a tragic speedboat accident in 2000.
The song has also dug up much debate over the years as people have struggled to agree on whether specific lyrics of the song should be censored.
Despite this, the song has been a hit for over three decades and, whilst never previously topping the UK charts, is on track to becoming the Christmas number one this year following MacGowan’s death.
