Hozier, Jessie Buckley Cover Fairytale of New York
The cover appears on the tribute album 20th Century Paddy, released in honor of Shane MacGowan.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Holiday Music
Hozier and Jessie Buckley have released a cover of The Pogues' 1987 song "Fairytale of New York" for the Shane MacGowan tribute album 20th Century Paddy. The album contains 36 tracks spanning MacGowan's musical career.
Why it matters
The cover revisits one of the most enduring Christmas songs associated with Ireland, placing a new interpretation alongside a collection built around MacGowan's body of work. It extends the song's afterlife since the original became a Christmas No. 1 in Ireland.
The 20th Century Paddy album contains 36 tracks spanning MacGowan's musical career, and the original 1987 recording was an Irish Christmas No. 1. Commercial performance of the new cover has not been reported.
The players
Hozier
Irish singer-songwriter known for the single "Take Me to Church" and his soul- and blues-influenced folk rock.
Jessie Buckley
Irish actress and singer who has received critical acclaim for film and stage work.
Shane MacGowan
Irish singer-songwriter and frontman of The Pogues, whose music the tribute album honors.
The details
Hozier and Jessie Buckley recorded the cover in the same studio where Shane MacGowan, Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues originally recorded the 1987 song. The cover is included on 20th Century Paddy, which also features Johnny Depp and Imelda May, Kingfishr, U2 and Bruce Springsteen.
Timeline
1984: The Pogues released their first album, Red Roses for Me.
1987: The original "Fairytale of New York" was released and became Ireland's Christmas No. 1.
December 8, 2023: The song returned to the top of the Irish Singles Chart, coinciding with MacGowan's funeral.
2024: Hozier performed the song on Saturday Night Live's Christmas special.
November 13, 2026: 20th Century Paddy and the Hozier and Buckley cover were released.
Season Trajectory
The original "Fairytale of New York" became an Irish Christmas No. 1 in 1987 and returned to the top of the Irish Singles Chart on December 8, 2023, during MacGowan's funeral. This new cover continues a pattern in which the song is revisited each holiday season, extending its presence in the Christmas music canon.
The cover is available as part of the 20th Century Paddy tribute album, which includes 36 tracks. Listeners can access the album to hear the new version alongside the rest of the collection.
The takeaway
Revisiting a holiday standard through a tribute project shows how a song can be reinterpreted by new artists while keeping its original context. Listeners interested in the source material can compare the cover with The Pogues' 1987 recording.
Further reading
For more seasonal listening, explore the Holiday Music section.
