Shane MacGowan’s wife Victoria May Clarke has confessed that she “felt suicidal” after losing her husband last year. The Irish singer died in December 2023
At the time, his wife, Victoria, shared an emotional statement on confirming the sad news, writing: “I don’t know how to say this … So I am just going to say it. Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love. […]
“Shane … has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese. I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love.”
One year on, Victoria spoke exclusively with and has since admitted that she felt “desolation and despair” after Shane’s death.
“There were quite a few days where I thought that I definitely wanted to kill myself – I wanted to get out of here and go and be with him,” she said.
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Victoria has opened up about her grief (Image: Getty)
“You just have to let yourself feel it. So there was a lot of howling and crying and feeling s*** – the symptoms are very physical, like a pain in your ribs – and you don’t want to get out of bed.”
Shane founded The Pogues in 1982 with Spider Stacy, Jem Finer and James Fearnley. The band began to find fame when they opened for The Clash on their 1984 tour and released their albums Red Roses for Me and Rum Sodomy and the Lash.
He came into his own as a songwriter, penning The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn, and interpretations of Dirty Old Town and And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. Of course, Shane’s greatest writing success came with The Pogues Christmas duet, Fairytale of New York, with Kirsty MacColl.
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Shane’s greatest writing success came with The Pogues Christmas duet, Fairytale of New York (Image: Getty)
When released in 1987, it reached number one in the Irish chart and number two in the UK. It has since been celebrated as one of the best Christmas songs of all time.
The Pogues reformed in 2001 for a sell-out tour and re-released Fairytale of New York to raise funds for the Justice for Kirsty Campaign and Crisis at Christmas. The band split up for good in 2014.
Shane was renowned for his songwriting and has won numerous accolades, including a Lifetime Achievement Award and the Ivor Novello Inspiration Award.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email , or visit the website to find details of your nearest branch.