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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Lizzie Edmonds

Shane MacGowan's widow claims singer has contacted her from beyond the grave

Shane MacGowan's widow has claimed she has received communication from the late singer from beyond the grave. 

The Pogues frontman was diagnosed with viral encephalitis before passing away on November 30.

Now, his wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, has shared how the singer has been encouraging her to pick up a guitar and play in recent days. 

Taking to Instagram to share a picture of her guitar, she wrote: “I haven’t played my guitar since @shanemacgowanofficial died but last night while I was trying to watch TV I kept getting nudges from him to open the drawer of his desk. 

“I kept trying to ignore the nudges and I tried to keep watching TV but something wouldn’t let me and I had to get up and open the drawer. 

“Inside the drawer was a plectrum, so I picked it up and then I picked up the guitar and played a few chords.

“And it genuinely felt like there was an energy that was coming through and making up a tune!!! 

“Who knows what we are capable of from the other side? I do know that it felt really good to play the guitar!”

It comes after the journalist made a heartfelt tribute to MacGowan on Christmas day - what would have been his 66th birthday.

The journalist, who had been with the star since the tender age of 16, wrote: “Today is really really hard much harder than I expected it to be. I just can’t stop crying and I want to be with him so much it physically hurts.

“I don’t know how people get through this but I do know that they do and people do feel joy even after they lose their person.

“Shane always said that even though he was born on Christmas Day he was much more focused on it being Jesus' birthday and he felt like that was the most important thing about Christmas so I am asking for Jesus and the angels to help me today.”

MacGowan died “peacefully” on the morning of November 30 with his wife Victoria and family at his side.

A statement shared on behalf of Clarke, his sister Siobhan and father, Maurice, on The Pogues’ official Instagram said: “It is with the deepest sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of SHANE MACGOWAN.

“Shane died peacefully at 3am this morning (30 November, 2023) with his wife Victoria and family by his side. Prayers and the last rites were read which gave comfort to his family.

“He is survived by his wife Victoria, his sister Siobhan and his father, Maurice, family and a large circle of friends. Further details will be announced shortly but the family ask for privacy at this very sad time”.

His funeral was held at the Saint Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, in December. 

U2 frontman Bono gave a reading, while Hollywood actor Johnny Depp and Bob Geldof delivered the Prayers of the Faithful.

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