Press release
Statement by Catherine Martin on the passing of Shane MacGowan
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
Catherine Martin, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, today (30 November) expressed her sadness on the death of Shane MacGowan:
"With the passing of Shane, we have lost one of our greatest songwriters and performers. In his work with The Pogues especially, Shane revitalised Irish traditional music, through such seminal albums as Red Roses for Me, Rum Sodomy and the Lash, and If I Should Fall from Grace with God. From the Pogues' first gigs in Ireland at venues like the National Stadium, McGonagles and the Olympic Ballroom, his charismatic performances energised and enthralled Irish audiences.
"But it is his song writing for which he will be mainly remembered. Songs such as A Pair of Brown Eyes (memorably covered by Christy Moore), Sally MacLennane and The Body of an American will be enjoyed for generations to come. And in Fairytale of New York, he created arguably the greatest Christmas song of them all. His ability in particular to capture the Irish emigrant experience in Britain, echoing the literary work of writers such as John Healy whose book The Grass Arena dealt with similar themes, was especially remarkable. We think also today of his collaboration with Sinéad O’Connor and of the great talents that have been lost to us this year.
"Shane’s passing is a reminder that we should value people in life and I am pleased that Shane’s life and work was celebrated in such style on the occasion of his 60th birthday at the National Concert Hall. My deepest condolences to his wife Victoria, his family including connections in Tipperary, and to his legions of fans."