PHOTO: ODHRAN DUCIE There was a fantastic turn out last Sunday at the launch of the new Shane MacGowan mural at Emmet Place in Nenagh. Emmet Place and the surrounding streets filled with people from near and afar who showed up on the sunny day to see the mural, show their appreciation to artist Neil O’Dwyer and listen to the multitude of local and big name musicians that took to the stage adjacent to the mural. Artist Neil O’Dwyer was on hand from the beginning to take pictures with family members and admirers of the painting. He stood, deservedly proud, near the painting as hundreds took selfies with the multi-story depiction of The Pogues singer. Music played in the nearby car park, where local artists like Dáwna, Gary Scully, Grace Tooher and Caithlin McGrath took to the stage to entertain the crowd. The music paused at 3pm and Nenagh district administrator Rosemary Joyce took to the microphone to introduce a number of guest speakers with the mural as backdrop. Nenagh MD Cathaoirleach Fiona Bonfield was first to speak and gave a breakdown of how the mural came to be and the how Tipperary Town artist Neil O’Dwyer was selected for the project. Neil spoke next and became emotional with pride when discussing his joy in getting to work on the mural: “Thanks to Rosemary, Melanie, Siobhan, Victoria and to you all here in Nenagh and further afield for your amazing feedback and positive response which of course means everything on a project as special as this. “They tell me Shane would have approved and that’ll do me." Shane’s sister Siobhan MacGowan followed Neil. Always the engaging speaker, she explained why she wanted Neil for the piece and how proud Shane would be of it: “It was clear that (Neil) would give his heart and soul to delivering what was so important to us as a family that Shane’s expression and true likeness be captured. “As he began the work, it quickly became obvious that he was going to fulfil and exceed our every hope. “The mural has such a real presence
GALLERY: ‘Everything he could have possibly hoped for’ - high praise at MacGowan mural launch
