'Another legend gone': Tributes pour in for Shane MacGowan

TRIBUTES have poured in for lead singe of the Pogues, Shane MacGowan.

Shane died peacefully at home, with his wife, Victoria Mary and his sister, Siobhan, by his side.

The 65-year-old had recently left the hospital and had returned home to spend the holidays with his wife.

Following the sad news of his passing, tributes have poured in for the singer-songwriter.

In a tribute shared on social media, his wife, Victoria Mary Clarke wrote: “I don’t know how to say this so I am just going to say it. Shane who will always be 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 end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese. I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures.”

She added: “You will live in my heart forever. Rave on in the garden all wet with rain that you loved so much You meant the world to me.”

His bandmate, Peter ‘Spider” Stacy also shared a few words following the passing of his dear friend. ”O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done.”

President Michael D Higgins wrote in tribute: “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. The genius of Shane’s contribution includes the fact that his songs capture within them, as Shane would put it, the measure of our dreams.”

Broadcaster, Ryan Tubridy, also paid Shane a tribute in a video message. “He was a fascinating figure who I met a few times in recent years. He was a divil with plenty to say, a fan of Trivial Pursuit and a great companion to Victoria Mary who I’m thinking of today alongside his extended family.”

“Had the honour of meeting Shane McGowan a few times. Such a gifted songwriter and poet. RIP Shane. Another legend gone, it’s been a very sad year for Irish music,” said Steve Garrigan, the frontman of Kodaline in a tribute.

The Pogues shared a statement on behalf of Shane’s wife, his sister Siobhan and father Maurice.

“It is with the deepest sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Shane MacGowan,” read the statement. “Shane died peacefully at 3am this morning (30 November, 2023) with his wife Victoria and family by his side. Prayers and the last rites were read which gave comfort to his family.”

Shane MacGowan was born on December 25, 1957, in Kent. His father was from Dublin and his mother from Co Tipperary.