Shane MacGowan, songwriter and lead singer of Celtic folk-punk band The Pogues, died early Thursday at the age of 65 after a long illness, his widow announced.

"Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me… has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese," wrote MacGowan's widow Victoria Mary Clarke in an Instagram post. Later, the band said on its official website that "Shane died peacefully at 3.30 am this morning (30 November 2023) with his wife and sister by his side."

MacGowan, who had been in and out of the hospital in Dublin since July, is most famous for penning the Christmas classic "Fairytale of New York", a duet sung with Kirsty MacColl in 1987. 

Co-formed by MacGowan, the Pogues fused punk and Irish folk music. He was born in England but spent much of his childhood in Ireland with his mother's family.

The band became an international symbol of Irishness, both at home and for the sprawling diaspora, with MacGowan's contribution recognized in a slew of tributes from political leaders.

"Shane will be remembered as one of music's greatest lyricists," Irish President Michael D. Higgins said in a statement.

"So many of his songs would be perfectly crafted poems if that would not have deprived us of the opportunity to hear him sing them," he said.

'Iconic'

Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar called MacGowan "an amazing musician and artist". 

"His songs beautifully captured the Irish experience, especially the experience of being Irish abroad," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Micheal Martin, Varadkar's deputy, said he was "devastated" by MacGowan's death, calling him "iconic".

"His passing is particularly poignant at this time of year as we listen to Fairytale of New York — a song that resonates with all of us," he wrote.