The death has been announced of Pogues frontman and songwriter Shane MacGowan.
MacGowan, best known for the festive hit Fairytale Of New York, passed away aged 65 after a prolonged illness.
His wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, confirmed the news this morning.
“There’s no way to describe the loss that I am feeling and the longing for just one more of his smiles that lit up my world,” she said.
“Thank you thank you thank you thank you for your presence in this world you made it so very bright and you gave so much joy to so many people with your heart and soul and your music.
“You will live in my heart forever. Rave on in the garden all wet with rain that you loved so much.”
MacGowan had been discharged from hospital on 22 November, following a five month stay battling an infection. He welcomed a series of showbiz visitors during his illness, including Daniel O’Donnell who visited his good friend in August.
Victoria May Clarke and Shane MacGowan
MacGowan grew up in London and spent his summers and holidays in rural County Tipperary, with his mother’s extended family. He was exposed to Irish traditional folk music and culture from a young age, and this had a profound influence on his later work.
MacGowan began his music career as a teenager and became a key figure in the punk scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1982, he formed the Pogues with guitarist Jem Finer. The Pogues released their first album, Red Roses for Me, in 1984
Despite his personal battles with addiction, MacGowan continued to write and record music. He released several solo albums, including The Snake (1994) and The Crock of Gold (2009). He also collaborated with a variety of other artists, including Nick Cave, Sinéad O’Connor, and Johnny Depp.
His music has touched the lives of millions of people around the world.
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