President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins has led tributes for Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan, who died peacefully on Thursday morning, November 30.
Higgins described MacGowan as one of "music's great lyricists" and said many of his songs resembled "perfectly crafted poems".
"The genius of Shane’s contribution includes the fact that his songs capture within them, as Shane would put it, the measure of our dreams - of so many worlds, and particularly those of love, of the emigrant experience and of facing the challenges of that experience with authenticity and courage, and of living and seeing the sides of life that so many turn away from," Higgins said in a statement on Thursday.
"His words have connected Irish people all over the globe to their culture and history, encompassing so many human emotions in the most poetic of ways.
"Born on Christmas Day, there was perhaps some form of destiny which led Shane to write ‘Fairytale of New York’, the timeless quality of which will surely mean that it will be listened to every Christmas for the next century or more.
"Likewise songs like ‘Rainy Night in Soho’, ‘A Pair of Brown Eyes’, ‘If I Should Fall from Grace with God’ and so many others will live on far into the years and decades to come."
Statement by President Higgins on the death of Shane MacGowan https://t.co/gHiCNjxwzE pic.twitter.com/C8x5IRIUpO
— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) November 30, 2023
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also paid tribute to MacGowan, describing him as "an amazing artist and musician."
"His songs beautifully captured the Irish experience, especially the experience of being Irish abroad," Varadkar wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Sorry to hear that Shane McGowan has passed. He was an amazing musician and artist. His songs beautifully captured the Irish experience, especially the experience of being Irish abroad: Shane MacGowan, Fairytale of New York singer, dies aged 65https://t.co/eNmP7AySfW
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) November 30, 2023
Tánaiste Micheál Martin, meanwhile, said he was "devastated" by MacGowan's death.
"An iconic musician talented in many genres, particularly influenced by his time in Tipperary," Martin said in a post on X.
"His passing is particularly poignant at this time of year as we listen to Fairytale of New York - a song that resonates with all of us."
My deepest sympathies to his wife Victoria Mary and all the MacGowan family.
Ní bheidh do leithéid arís ann. 2/2
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) November 30, 2023
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald wrote that Ireland has lost one of its "greatest and most beloved musical icons."
"Shane MacGowan was a poet, dreamer and social justice champion," McDonald said.
"He was a republican and a proud Irish man. Nobody told the Irish story like Shane. He sang to us of dreams and captured stories of emigration, heartbreak, love, and joy.
"He found the words and songs to illuminate the rawness of romance and torment, light and shade, despair and hope. Shane understood the sorrowful & joyful beauty of real life. His genius was that he knew the power of scars, the humanity in falling down. The bravery of getting back up.
"Quite simply, he was one of the greatest songwriters of his generation. His music and his poetry will live forever."
Ireland has lost one of its greatest and most beloved musical icons.
Shane MacGowan was a poet, dreamer and social justice champion. He was a republican and a proud Irish man.
Nobody told the Irish story like Shane. He sang to us of dreams and captured stories of emigration... pic.twitter.com/CAhaLJrdwu
— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) November 30, 2023
In Northern Ireland, First Minister designate Michelle O'Neill said MacGowan was an "incredible talent and a national treasure."
Very sad news on the passing of legendary Irish singer, songwriter and poet, Shane MacGowan.
An incredible talent and a national treasure.
My thoughts are with his wife Victoria Mary Clarke and family, friends and many fans at home and abroad.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam pic.twitter.com/tyemsfbev8
— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) November 30, 2023
Colum Eastwood, head of the SDLP, said MacGowan was a "legend."
RIP Shane. A true legend. https://t.co/YJ2m9FXuga
— Colum Eastwood 🇺🇦 (@columeastwood) November 30, 2023
MacGowan died peacefully on Thursday morning, November 30 in the presence of his wife Victoria Mary Clarke and his family after a long battle with illness.
The Pogues frontman was admitted to hospital in July with an unspecified illness and was discharged earlier in November.
He was also hospitalized last Christmas, spending a week in intensive care due to swelling on the brain.
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