Shane is definitely more sinner than saint, but equally surely he has made important contributions to Irish music. For those who don't know him, he's a London Irish punk musician turned folk musician. In the seventies he was with the punk band Nipple Erectors, which shortened its name to Nips to get radio airplay. In the eighties he formed Pogue Mahone, ("kiss my arse" in Irish) and once again changed the name to The Pogues. He eventually left the Pogues and joined the Popes.

I think to say Shane has contributed nothing to Irish music is ridiculous. Although he is a bad singer and a bad drinker and often an annoying lout, he has written some magnificent songs. Pair of Brown Eyes, Sally MacLennane, Fairytale of New York, The Broad Majestic Shannon, etc.

Weirdly, I believe that Shane wrote The Broad Majestic Shannon for Tommy Makem to sing, and that Tommy turned his nose up at it for some reason. There may be some kind of grudge at work; Shane may have insulted Tommy at some point; god knows he's insulted enough people.

I have to say I have walked out of gigs when Shane was too drunk to be of any use on stage, so I understand people's bitterness, but some of the songs are indelibly part of Irish music, covered by the likes of Christy Moore. What more do you need to be accorded a "contribution" to Irish music?

Steve