It’ll be party time at St George’s Market this Christmas as The Pogues return for a festive shindig.

The Irish folk/punk band — fronted by the infamous Shane MacGowan — will kick off the yuletide festivities with a concert on December 2.

The St George’s Market gig will start a run of shows in early December, including Florence And The Machine (December 6), Snow Patrol (December 7, 8 and 9) and White Lies (December 8).

Formed in 1982, The Pogues scored a string of hit albums and penned the Christmas classic Fairytale Of New York.

In 1991, MacGowan quit the group and while the rest of the group carried on briefly, with ex-Clash man Joe Strummer providing occasional vocals, they eventually disbanded in 1995. The band reunited with MacGowan in 2001 for a UK tour and headlined the London Fleadh.

Tickets to see The Pogues in Belfast on December 2 go on sale this Friday at 9am.