Shane MacGowan's sister's tribute after 'dreading hearing his songs at funeral'
Shane MacGowan’s sister has penned a rousing tribute to the late singer as she recalled dancing to his songs at his funeral.
Siobhán MacGowan is the 60-year-old younger sister of The Pgoues frontman Shane - who passed away last month at the age of 65 and following a long health battle. In a heartfelt article for the Irish Times, Siobhán recalls growing up with her brother, how they connected to their Irish roots after being raised in England, and how proud she was to see him go on to achieve international fame as a singer.
Siobhán and her family have been left devastated by Shane’s death but writes that her love for him will live on and she has many incredible memories to harvest from to think of him. The author also writes that she was anxious about hearing Shane’s music at his funeral - which took place in County Tipperary, Ireland, on Friday 8 December.
Writing her thoughts on life, death and grief, Siobhán wrote proudly of Shane’s music accomplishments. She wrote: “The Pogues’ first two albums Red Roses for Me and Rum, Sodomy and the Lash were critically acclaimed but it would be the Christmas single off their third album, If I Should Fall from Grace with God, that would see them catapulted into the mainstream.
Shane's funeral took place in Ireland earlier this month (Getty Images)“That Christmas, 1987, in Tipperary, Shane and I gathered with our parents and other relatives around a transistor radio complete with an aerial-boosting coat hanger, to hear the UK charts countdown; like the Racing Game before, shouting the record on to the winning post. It came in at number two. But it was number one in Ireland. And that was what mattered to Shane. Never could we have foreseen the anthem it would become. No more than I could ever have foreseen that 36 years later I would waltz to that song, before the altar, at my brother’s funeral.”
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Siobhán added: “I had been dreading hearing his songs at the service, fearing their poignancy would make my pain unbearable. But I had not reckoned on the power of love to soar through the pain. Like one of Shane’s songs, the mourners danced wildly, tears on their cheeks, spirit and heart refusing to be defeated by death.”
Shane passed away on Thursday 30 November after he had spent a year in and out of hospital as he battled viral encephalitis and infection. The Pogues announced his passing, writing in a statement: "It is with the deepest sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of SHANE MACGOWAN. 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. He is survived by his wife Victoria, his sister Siobhan and his father, Maurice, family and a large circle of friends. Further details will be announced shortly but the family ask for privacy at this very sad time."
Shane is survived by his wife, journalist Victoria Mary Clarke, 58, who wrote: "Shane will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life"
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