Lisa's Fairytale contribution to Shane's 60th

 

It may be considered a Christmas classic, but the beautifully-rendered rendition of Fairytale of New York by The Frames' frontman Glen Hansard and Ballyhaise's Lisa O'Neill wowed the star-studded crowd at Shane MacGowan's 60th Birthday Celebration last weekend.

Bono, Nick Cave, Sinead O'Connor and Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins were among those in attendance at The National Concert Hall on Sunday.

One guest, Johnny Depp described MacGowan, who he worked with on the soundtrack for the 2013 film 'The Lone Ranger', as “one of the most important poets of the 20th century”.

The backing band for the night meanwhile included the likes of Sharon Shannon, Steve Wickham from the Waterboys and several of the surviving Pogues' members.

Among those also to take the stage as part of the celebration, Sex Pistol Glen Matlock joined Spider Stacy, Jesse Malin, and Clem Burke from Blondie for a three-song opening-set.

Singer Nick Cave meanwhile joined Shane himself as the pair sang a duet of the Pogues classic 'Summer in Siam.'

But taking on the iconic Fairytale of New York, released 30-years-ago this year, saw Glen Hansard joined by Cavan singer-songwriter Lisa.

The song opens with Hansard singing the part McGowan, before indomitable Lisa takes over the role of Kirsty McColl.

 

 

Lisa is set to travel to play La Cappella in Berne Switzerland twice later this month, on January 25 and 28, sandwiching appearances at the Moods Club in Zurich on January 26, and Haberhaus in Schaffhausen on January 27.

She will also join on stage a host of local music stars to play at the now sold-out In Memory of Martina event at the Hotel Kilmore this coming Friday, January 19.

The event in memory of Martina Walsh is to raise funding for Surgical 1 at Cavan General Hospital and Cavan-Monaghan Palliative Care.