Entertainment Swindon

Back in 1987, the Pogues & Kirsty McColl released the now classic Christmas song ‘Fairytale of New York’ which was sadly beaten to the Number 1 spot for Christmas by the Pet Shop Boys with their song ‘Always On My Mind’. One of those Christmas songs today that when you’re told never made it to the top spot for Christmas, you question “Really?!” 

Sadly world was recently told of the passing of the Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan which has led to a campaign to get the Pogues Christmas classic to Number 1 this Christmas with ‘Fairytale of Christmas’ 7″ single being released with all profits from the sales going to Dublin Simon Community, a charity loved and supported by MacGowan and his widow Victoria Mary Clarke.

PRE-ORDER ‘FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK’ 7″ SINGLE HERE

And to celebrate the the life of Shane MacGowan, his family, friends and the band themselves fully behind the campaign to finally get the Pogues Christmas classic to Number 1. 

In a recent interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, widow Victoria Mary Clarke said, “It would be nice, wouldn’t it? It should be the Christmas number one. It absolutely should.”

Emma Kilkenny, Head of Fundraising & Communications at Dublin Simon Community said: “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. 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.”

The 7″ single will come with Fairytale Of New York on the A-side with an instrumental version of the track on the B-side. The vinyl can be pre-ordered here. £6/€6.90 from the sale of each product will be donated to Dublin Simon Community.