Capturing the magic of Shane MacGowan

Launch of book by photographer Pádraig Ó Flannabhra

After weeks of awaiting its publication, the book Séan MacGabhann - Shane MacGowan: Songsmith: Picturing the Pogue by Pádraig Ó Flannabhra was launched at Nenagh Arts Centre last week.

MC for the evening was Fionnuala McKenna, the new director of Nenagh Arts Centre, who welcomed everybody to the centre, beginning with the special guest and sister of the frontman and founding member of The Pogues, Siobhán MacGowan.

Siobhán said: “It's great to see so many of you here tonight for the launch of Pádraig's very special book about my brother. One of the many things that makes it special is not only does it visually capture a time but captures that time also through story and song; the memories of the people that were there and the reflections of family and friends. The personal reflection and more intimate portrait was possible because the book is centred around Shane's times in and around our family's hometown of Nenagh and Pádraig, being part of our landscape, was luckily on hand to record the local mischief. That Nenagh stars in its pages is something that would greatly please Shane, as not only did he love the town but believed it should be the capital of Ireland, if not the world.”

The book's journey begins nearly 40 years ago in Kennedy's of Pocán at Little Christmas in 1986 in a gig by The Pogues that has entered folklore, yet, until now, hardly any photos of it have been seen until this new collection.

Siobhán recalled the gig. “Elvis Costello was in a corner trying and failing, in the mayhem, to look cool, many of the crowd jumping on and off the stage, and, just as Spider remembers, our own uncle Seán and cousin Carmel joining Shane to sing. It was the unleashing of an unholy hooley.”

Part two of the book features another Christmas, 18 years later, in 2003. Shane, now firmly established on the world stage, famed for his Christmas classic, ‘Fairlytale of New York’, was home and Pádraig somehow persuaded him to sit for a series of portraits in his Silver Street studio.

Siobhán continued: “The third and final part of the book is the story of yet another Christmas. Two weeks before Christmas last year when Shane took his final and devastating journey through the streets of Nenagh, I am not going to dwell on this, because it is too upsetting for me to talk about. But, just to say how moved Dad and I were to witness how people of Nenagh and Tipperary rose to ready every road, roof and rafter to bring their son home, how they flocked to surround him and us in such love. I know how very touched Shane would have been by that. How proud he would have been to see Tipperary on the world stage, even prouder of its people. He received worldwide accolades that day but the accolades he received from his native Tipperary would have meant the most to him.”

Siobhán then thanked Pádraig for the sensitive way he has captured that very difficult day, giving it a beauty through psalm and song. “And the fact that he had dedicated this book to the memory of both my brother and our mother means everything to me.”

Next to talk was the Bishop of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan, who described the book as a beautifully produced monument to a truly remarkable gentleman, a rare human being and like so many geniuses, eccentric, talented, driven, a man full of faith and love for his music, his family, friends, his native place. The third speaker was the President of Press Photographers Ireland, David Brannigan, who congratulated Pádraig on this wonderful book. “When it comes to those most special occasions, of the most special people; those moments and people that many beyond family and friends need to be able to recall, that is when the role of the press photographer comes into their own. Which is why this book that celebrates just such a special person and such unique moments that allows us to see into Shane’s gaze and expressions and dwell fully on what his life means to each of us - family, friend or fan.”

Finally the photographer, Pádraig, went on to thank everybody for their presence and support and was especially thankful for all who bought the book in support of UNICEF -the Children’s charity, “especially the children of Palestine and the Gaza strip.”