‘We’d roll joints and watch Netflix with him!’ Irish folk artists on the creative genius of Shane MacGowan

Lankum, the Mary Wallopers, Lisa O’Neill and John Francis Flynn recall their encounters with late Pogues singer – and explain how his music got to the heart of Irish identity

‘There would be all sorts of rumours flying around. ‘He’s in Eamonn Doran’s with Huey from the Fun Lovin’ Criminals. They’ve been on the lash for three days, and they’re still going …’”

Daragh Lynch of Irish folk group Lankum is reminiscing about his teenage years speculating on the movements of Shane MacGowan in Dublin. As a Rimbaudian rogue and colossus of Celtic song, MacGowan packed millennia of rare magic into his 65 years. Now, as one of the most luminous calendar years for Irish music in an age nears a close, Lynch is just one of several folk music heroes saluting an outlier who forged the path forward.