Shane MacGowan despised funerals, his widow has revealed.
The Pogues frontman – who died on 30 November aged 35 from pneumonia after months of battling illnesses – was laid to rest of Friday (08.12.23) at a funeral in Nenagh, Tipperary, and hours before the service his partner Victoria Mary Clarke revealed his hatred of final farewells.
She said on Instagram: “Tomorrow is Shane’s funeral which is hard to believe and probably I won’t believe it for a while.
“Shane hated funerals and he refused to go to them with a few rare exceptions. “So it’s incredible to think that so many people want to come to his and that so many beautiful people are pouring their hearts and souls into making it magnificent and magical and memorable for him and for us who are left behind. “I am feeling my heart bursting open in all directions with the amount of love that is being showered on us and most especially because everyone has their own problems and challenges and everyone has their own loved ones who they need to look after. I feel that Shane is with me all the time and that he is feeling intense appreciation and gratitude and that he is still sending love to everyone and maybe in a more powerful way from where he is now. I couldn’t have possibly asked for a more precious and enduring love affair as a human and I got so much from my relationship with Shane that it would be greedy to want more!”
Referring to Shane’s battles with drink and drugs, Victoria – who married Shane in 2018 – added: “I would love to say to anyone who is in a relationship with someone who has problems with addiction or anxiety or depression to please get healing and help for yourself, and to take care of yourself and you will find that it gives you the strength to keep going and to be able to enjoy your love.
“And to anyone who is in fear of losing someone just know that millions of angels are watching you and supporting you.
“And if you don’t want to come to the funeral Shane would definitely understand, he wouldn’t want to go either!
“But if you want to remember him, the next time you see a homeless person stop and give them your time and your compassion and your respect and treat them like a brother or a sister.”