Shane MacGowan: The Pogues frontman dies aged 65 after eight-year long battle with brain condition

The Pogues frontman and legendary Irish rocker Shane MacGowan has died aged 65.

The music icon, who was behind the Christmas song Fairytale of New York, tragically died after an eight-year battle with a brain condition.

His wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, announced his death through an emotional Instagram post.

Attaching the heart-wrenching message to a black and white photo of MacGowan, Clarke said: ‘‘I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures.”

“You will live in my heart forever. Rave on in the garden all wet with rain that you loved so much.

“You meant the world to me.”

News of MacGowan’s death came days after his wife shared a photo in his hospital bed alongside announcing the news he was free to return home.

The 65-year-old singer was diagnosed with viral encephalitis — a life-threatening condition which leads to brain swelling. He has been in and out of hospital for months.

The singer was fired from The Pogues in 1991 following a spate of drug and alcohol abuse.

MacGowan married Victoria Mary Clarke in 2018 and they met when Irish rocker was 24 and she was 16.