Shane MacGowan's sister pays heartfelt tribute to father Maurice after his death

Shane MacGowan with his father Maurice, mother Therese, and sister Siobhan at his 40th birthday in December 1997. File picture: Leon Farrell/RollingNews.ie

The sister of late Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan has shared a heartfelt tribute to their father, Maurice MacGowan, who died on Monday morning just weeks before his 97th birthday.

Maurice MacGowan died peacefully, surrounded by his family, at University Hospital Limerick.

His wife, Therese MacGowan, died aged 87 in a car crash on New Year's Day 2017, while their son, Shane MacGowan, died on November 30, 2023, aged 65.

'He lived an extraordinary life'

Writing on Instagram, Siobhán MacGowan, the family's only surviving immediate member, said she was "heartbroken to say that my darling father, Maurice, passed away in the early hours of Monday morning, August 3, two months shy of 97 years old".

She said he had "lived an extraordinary life" and recalled telling him while sitting beside him in hospital that he had "lived a noble life".

“He would have laughed if he could hear me, but I meant it, both Shane and I admired our father tremendously, he was the standard we measured ourselves by" she explained.

She said her father had introduced Shane to books that later inspired his songwriting and writing, adding that he was "hugely talented".

“He was translating Latin and Greek verse into his 90s, classics he had studied all his life, and adored ancient Irish poetry.”

'He instilled in us a deep sense of self-belief'

Siobhán recalled listening to music with her parents as a child and singing along with her father, who was born in Dublin before later moving to Co Tipperary.

“He instilled in us a deep sense of self-belief and the knowledge that we were loved no matter what,” she said.

“He told us we could do anything we wanted to do, that nothing was out of our reach, and to not necessarily trust authority, question everything and think for ourselves.”

Paying tribute to his life, she described Maurice as "a polymath with an insatiable appetite for learning", whose interests ranged from literature, history and languages to gardening, music and environmentalism.

She said he introduced his children to "the magic and power of literature", encouraging them to think independently and believe they could achieve anything.

His love of Irish music, poetry and storytelling, she said, helped create a home where curiosity and creativity flourished.

'A man ahead of his time'

Reflecting on his influence, Siobhán said her father's greatest gift was the confidence he instilled in those around him.

“He taught us not to be afraid of life,” she wrote, describing him as a man of compassion, intellect and unwavering principles whose legacy would live on through his family and everyone whose lives he touched.

She said her father was a man "of massive principles" and became a vegetarian in his 60s, during the 1990s, while living in Co Tipperary, at a time when it was uncommon.

He later advocated for animal rights, actively supported Amnesty International, and wrote to governments about the treatment of their citizens.

She also recalled that he allowed his gardens to grow wild long before it became fashionable, describing him as "a man ahead of his time" who loved all genres of music, wrote satirical plays and poetry, and possessed a sharp Dublin wit.

Concluding her tribute, she wrote: “Dad, we loved you greatly, Mum, Shane and I. I will miss you beyond measure. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest, Dad. Thank you for everything.”