Shane MacGowan’s wife worried about loss for 35 years and thought she’d ‘die’ but says ‘it’s not as bad as you think’

SHANE MacGowan’s wife Victoria Mary Clarke has said she “spent many, many years, probably at least 35 years”, worrying about losing the star.

The Fairytale of New York singer-songwriter passed away at his Dublin home last Thursday, just weeks before his 66th birthday.

Shane had been receiving treatment at St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin when he was discharged on November 22 and returned home to spend time with his friends and family.

Speaking this morning on Good Morning Britain, Victoria explained how the Pogues frontman’s death had forced her to face her “biggest fear”.

She said: “I think the real reason I wanted to go on your show today is because as you were just talking about your contestants on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, and they were talking about facing real big fears, and I think for most of you watching the biggest fear you probably have is that you’re going to lose a loved one. 

“It’s going to happen, you know, you can’t really get around that. We all are going to lose a loved one.”

Victoria said she spent “at least 35 years worrying about losing Shane” but said she wants people to know “it’s not as bad as you think it’s going to be.”

The journalist, who first met Shane in 1986 when she was just 16, said: “I know that for me, I spent many, many years, probably at least 35 years, worrying about losing Shane because he was so, what’s the word, I guess he just pushed the boundaries so much of what humans can do to their bodies, and so I dreaded that. 

“I thought that I would fall apart. I thought I would die. I thought I would not be able to speak. I thought I would just be comatosed or on drugs myself or something like that.

“So I just want you all to know that it’s not as bad as you think it’s going to be, and there’s a huge amount of love that comes your way when you lose someone that you didn’t really expect.”

She added: “In my case, I’ve been overwhelmed by how much love and support there is.”

Victoria explained how she and music legend Shane “supported each other”, but admitted watching him on stage was sometimes like “watching a racing driver and not knowing if they were going to crash.”

She said: “It’s very much a collaboration, and that everything supported each other. So Shane really supported my stuff, my work, and I loved his work, and I love standing on the side of the stage watching him sing. 

“And you know it wasn’t always easy, as you all know, because he was very, he pushed the boundaries, and he was reckless, and he was very unconventional. 

“It was like watching a racing driver and not knowing if they were going to crash, watching him going on stage.”

Shane’s funeral will take place on Friday in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, just a stone’s throw from the family farm where he grew up.

FINAL GOODBYE

It will be open to the public for everyone to say their goodbyes to the singer.

On Friday morning, a cortege will leave Nenagh to Dublin, where there will be a procession across the city.

After that, the legendary singer’s remains will be returned to Tipperary and cremated.

Shane’s ashes are then to be scattered on the Shannon, which he famously wrote about in The Broad Majestic Shannon.

President Michael D Higgins will represent the Irish people at the funeral, while well-known people from the music industry, including Imelda May, Bono, Moya Brennan and the remaining members of The Pogues, are expected to attend.

Shane’s pals have claimed the singer will be laid to rest next week in the same church where his beloved mother’s funeral took place.

An insider explained: “Shane had many friends in the UK who will want to travel over for the funeral.

“The plan is for his funeral to take place next Friday in Nenagh and then for him to be cremated the following day, with his ashes scattered on the Shannon, which is fitting.

“The church is very near the family farmhouse which Shane adored. He considered it home.”