SHANE MacGowan’s widow says she’s paying the price of loving the singer, now that he’s gone.
The Fairytale of New York icon died on this day 12 months ago aged 65.
And making things even harder for Victoria Mary Clarke, this week would have marked the fifth anniversary of their wedding.
Victoria, a 58-year-old journalist who first met Shane in a London pub when she was 16, has relied on counselling to cope with the agony of his passing.
She told The Irish Sun: “It has been extremely difficult. I’m not going to gloss over that.
“Shane’s sister (Siobhan) has been unbelievably supportive. She texts me every single morning.
“And I talk to Shane’s dad sometimes, too.
“The Samaritans are amazing. You would be howling and unable to function. It was that profound.
“People had warned me years ago that the more time you spend with somebody, the more time you spend grieving them.
“It’s the price you are going to pay but you’re not going to say, ‘I won’t fall in love because I might have to grieve’.”
The year since the former Pogues frontman passed has been difficult for the woman he finally married in 2018 after the couple spent 32 years together.
But with music producer David Holmes working on the singer’s last recordings, we can reveal Shane will still release one more album from beyond the grave.
Shane had been preparing the record, which features guest performances by ex-band members Spider Stacy and Jem Finer, before he died from pneumonia.
However, the fate of these final 15 songs had been unknown after Shane passed away.
But speaking to The Irish Sun on the week of his first anniversary, his widow said: “David heard Shane’s recordings, loves them and is very excited.”
The Belfast producer is also working on the final album from late singerSinead O’Connor, which is to be released next year.
FINAL RECORDINGS
And Victoria revealed she has listened to the sessions Shane recorded during his final seven years with producer David.
She told us: “I wouldn’t say you’re going to find a new Fairytale of New York or a Rainy Night in Soho.
“But what fans of Shane will hear in these recordings is some of the most passionate singing Shane has ever done. It was pretty rare for Shane to sing like that.”
One recording of Shane singing traditional ballad Wild Mountain Thyme, recorded during his final days, is said to be particularly heart-breaking.
A mix of original songs and covers, the sessions have been likened to the recordings Johnny Cash did with producer Rick Rubin at the end of his career.
SONG STYLE
In an interview before he died last year, Shane revealed one of the last original songs he had recorded, Gino’s Place, to the work of soul legend Sam Cooke.
Another track is a musical reading of poet WB Yeats’ Down By the Salley Gardens.
David — who has remixed songs for Primal Scream and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds— is said to be excited at the quality of the music on the tapes.
Shane got in some of the best musicians in Ireland to record with him on his last sessions — including Waterboys fiddle player Steve Wickham and Irish legends Foster and Allen.
Indie musicians Johnny and Mick Cronin were also involved in the project, travelling to Shane’s home in Dublin 4 to record his vocals.
With the renowned songwriter gone, Victoria has the responsibility of looking after Shane’s legacy.
But she told us: “I wouldn’t call it a pressure or a responsibility, I think it’s instinctive for me.
“Sometimes people will come along and say ‘we are doing a tribute or an album or a night’, and you immediately sense that this is a good thing, and it’s coming from their hearts and they mean it.
“Shane would love things like that.”
TRIBUTE TRACK
These include a forthcoming tribute album of Shane songs.
Victoria added: “I don’t want to give too much away about the artists involved, but there are some heavy hitters, and some amazing young talent as well.
“Everyone involved has been so lovely and sincere to deal with. It’s going to be really good.”
Victoria launched her very first art exhibition Angels of the Trea Collective at the Irish Georgian Society this week in Dublin.
FAN INTERACTIONS
And wherever she goes, there are fans reminding her of what she — and the world — is missing.
Victoria said: “What also helps is bumping into so many fans of Shane. They are always so nice and want to tell me how much his work means to him.
“They’ll also say how much they enjoyed Shane’s funeral, which is a funny thing to say but I totally understand them.
“Because it was a celebration of Shane’s life and he would have wanted it that way.”
Victoria explained that grieving after Shane’s death, she had no inkling at the time how many people would watch the joyous scenes at his funeral — described as a “wake gatecrashing a funeral”.
SHANE’S SEND OFF
SkyNews interrupted services to broadcast it live from St Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh.
And Victoria credits principal celebrant Fr Pat Gilbert, adding: “In ways it’s not surprising that Shane’s funeral got such attention, because he was born on Christmas Day, and he appeared in the papers as a Christmas baby.
“He was a very charismatic person who seemed to attract people. There was something genuine and real about Shane.
“People had warned me years ago that the more time you spend with somebody, the more time you spend grieving them.”
Victoria Mary Clarke
“Most of all Shane cared so much about people, and they loved him back. He would have loved the send-off we gave him. Shane wouldn’t want us to mope about him dying. He would want us to celebrate his life.
“But death is not something we tend to celebrate in Ireland. In some cultures they truly believe that people have moved on to a better place.
‘TRUE BELIEVER’
“Shane was a true believer. He was very devout, very much about feeling the Holy Spirit and feeling the presence of Christ, especially coming up to Christmas.
“Shane really believed in Jesus Christ and he prayed to Jesus and Mary all the time. So I get great solace knowing that Shane is in the place he wants to be.
“He’s there with his mum, happy and hanging out with Ronnie Drew and Kirsty MacColl and all the singing pals who went before him.
“They’re all together having a great time.”
She added: “I remember a conversation I had with Shane where I asked him what did he think happened after you die.
“Shane told me that his soul would be free to go wherever it wants to go, and have the best party and stay there forever and never have a hangover.”
