Shane MacGowan, 63, makes his first public appearance since breaking a knee as frail Pogues star attends homeless charity fundraiser
- The Pogues singer attended a rehearsal for the busk in aid of the Simon Community, Northern Ireland ‘s leading homeless charity, in Dublin
- He was accompanied by long-term partner Victoria Mary Clarke, who has supported him through his well-publicised drink and drug battles
- Clarke announced in 2016 that Shane was sober and explained how his drinking problem stemmed from years of ‘singing in bars’
- During a lengthy career he is best known for 1987 Christmas single Fairytale Of New York, a collaboration with the late Kirsty MacColl
Shane MacGowan delighted fans on Tuesday evening by making his first public appearance since recovering from a serious knee injury.
The iconic Pogues singer was joined by long-term partner Victoria Mary Clarke ahead of a rehearsal for the busk in aid of the Simon Community, Northern Ireland’s leading homeless charity, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.
Taking to Instagram, Clarke, 55, shared a rare photo of wheelchair-bound Shane, 63, alongside musicians Kane O’rourke, Johnny Cronin and Michael Cronin after attending the event with U2 legend Bono.
Rare appearance: Shane MacGowan delighted fans on Tuesday evening by making his first public appearance since recovering from a serious knee injury
Captioning the image, she wrote: ‘Shane got out of the house for the first time since the last time he broke his knee and this time it wasn’t a trip in an ambulance!!
‘He played a gig with @orourkekane @croninjohnny and @miccronin @croninmusic in aid of @simoncommunity in Saint Patricks Cathedral which is organised by the incredible @glenhansard @thegingerman222 who should be nominated for a Sainthood!
‘It was beautiful to see some amazing and awesome musicians giving it welly including @theframesofficial Bono Liam O Maonlai Peadar O Riada and @lisaoneillmusic and @slinacroi and more!
The Simon Community busk was organised by Irish musician Glen Hansard with the aim of raising money for the Northern Irish charity, which offers specialist support services including homelessness prevention, accommodation, health, well-being and practice development.
Mansard’s band The Frames, Bono, Peadar Ó Riada, Liam Ó MaonlaÍ, and Lisa O’Neill were also in attendance on Tuesday evening.
Devoted: McGowan’s partner recently shared her feelings of guilt about ‘not doing enough’ for the Pogues frontman following his knee injury
‘Acceptance’: The journalist, who has been at Shane’s side for 34 years, took to Instagram to describe how she struggles with ‘not being able to heal him’
Frail: MacGowan performed with the aid of a cane at the 10th anniversary of The Hoping Foundation’s fundraising event for Palestinian refugee children in 2016
Journalist Clarke has been at Shane’s side for 34 years and supported him through his well-publicised drink and drug battles, but admits she struggled with feelings of guilt after being left powerless to help him following his knee injury.
Addressing Instagram followers in March, she wrote: ‘A lot of the time I feel guilty about not doing enough for Shane, not being superhuman, not having enough energy, not being able to heal him or even always be sweet and kind to him.
‘Sometimes his needs trigger resentment and anger in me and then I feel guilty about not being high vibrational and not being full of love and light and joy and positivity.’
Debauched: MacGowan has suffered physically from years of binge drinking and would often perform on stage drunk
She continued: ‘I think that a lot of people can feel this way? Unable to find our own joy and radiance and energy because we are overwhelmed by the needs of the people we love.
‘The angels are inviting us now to get more compassionate with ourselves and more accepting of our feelings.’
MacGowan has suffered physically from years of binge drinking and would often perform on stage drunk.
In 2015 he got his teeth fixed after losing his final original tooth in 2009.
Legendary: MacGowan onstage with Nick Cave at the height of his career with The Pogues
He began drinking at the tender age of five, when his family gave him Guinness to help him sleep, and his father frequently took him to the local pub while he drank with his friends.
Clarke announced in 2016 that Shane was sober for the ‘first time in several years’ and explained how his drinking problem stemmed from years of ‘singing in bars and clubs where people go to drink and have fun’.
She claimed Shane’s spiral into alcohol addiction happened due to the introduction of hard drugs, such as heroin.
Old times: During a lengthy career he is perhaps best known for 1987 Christmas single Fairytale Of New York, a collaboration with the late Kirsty MacColl (pictured)
Clarke said the singer became sober after a length stay in hospital when he was suffering from pneumonia and a hip injury, and Shane continued his sobriety journey when he returned home.
The couple’s close friend Johnny Depp has produced the film Crock of Gold, which looks back the musician’s eventful life – from his childhood in Ireland with big dreams of pursuing a career in music, to moving to London when he was 13 before becoming an icon.
During a lengthy career he is perhaps best known for 1987 Christmas single Fairytale Of New York, a collaboration with the late Kirsty MacColl.
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