Singer-songwriter Shane McGowan, the frontman of Celtic punk band The Pogues, has died at the age of 65. He had been in ill health for some time and had recently been hospitalized after being diagnosed with encephalitis.

Born in Kent, England, MacGowan was the son of Irish immigrants and formed The Pogues in 1982. The band released seven studio albums, including the 1988 Christmas hit "Fairytale of New York," which was written by MacGowan.

MacGowan was known for his distinctive and often unconventional voice, as well as his outspoken personality and long-standing struggles with substance abuse.

He is survived by his wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, and his sister.

In a statement, Clarke said: "I don't know how to say this so I am just going to say it. Shane... has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese."

She added that MacGowan "was the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and the end of everything that I hold dear."

Irish President Michael D Higgins described MacGowan as one of "music's greatest lyricists."

"Like so many across the world, I was deeply saddened by the news of Shane MacGowan's passing," he said.

"His words have connected Irish people all over the globe to their culture and history, encompassing so many human emotions in the most poetic of ways."