A festival to honour the memory of Shane MacGowan may be on the cards in Tipperary

Nenagh councillors have suggested a festival may be the most appropriate way to honour the memory of Shane MacGownan.

At last week’s sitting of Nenagh Municipal District Council, councillors said they had begun to think about ways to remember the late Pogues frontman.

Cllr Bugler said the county was lucky that the singer was from Tipperary and suggested working with his family on a festival.

Cllr Hanigan suggested a walk in Killbarron lined with tablets adorned with lyrics.
He said they had already erected a plaque to commemorate Shane MacGowan’s connection to the area.

However, several councillors, including Ger Darcy and Seamus Morris, said the time was not yet to plan a remembrance.

Cllr Morris said the time will come to decide how to remember Shane MacGowan.
Credit to the council

Councillors praised the work of Nenagh MD and in particular, District Administrator Rosemary Joyce, Director Marcus O’Connor and Garda Superintendent Ollie Baker in how the town facilitated Shane MacGowan’s funeral.

Cathaoirleach of Nenagh MD, Rocky McGrath said that the event showed Nenagh in a good light, which was no surprise to him.

“I am proud of how the council took care of things and put things in motion. It was handled with such professionalism, and I have to say top class and it doesn’t surprise me one bit,” said Cllr McGrath.

He said there was a ‘lovely way about the day’ and praised the gardaí for being “nice, polite and helpful.”

“On behalf of the municipal area, I salute Rosemary, Marcus and the council staff,” said Cllr McGrath. Cllr Bugler also paid tribute to the work of Ms Joyce.

Cllr Morris said that people were able to see Nenagh as a lovely place.

“I can’t believe it took a funeral for people to see Nenagh,” said Cllr Morris.

He said though it was a sad occasion, people had smiles on their faces and that there was “an atmosphere around Nenagh.”

Cllr John Carroll said that the event showed the “true character of the town.”

Big Numbers

Mr O’Connor thanked the council staff, gardaí , church authorities and the local schools and businesses for their support.

He said because of them, the council were able to provide an additional 1,500 car park spaces in the town.

“It shows there are big events Nenagh is capable of managing,” said Mr O'Connor.

Ms Joyce thanked the councillors for their words but said she did not do it alone.

She said that the funeral was not the only event they had managed in December.

The lights ceremony and the market in the castle drew in over 3,000 people each, and over 205 children got to visit Santa.

She thanked Victoria Lee in the tourist office and Spain AV for their work.

“Everything done here is the work of a team. At the end of the day, the idea is to have Nenagh as a destination, and I think we are achieving that,” said Ms Joyce.

Ms Joyce also said in the future, they would be looking at how to properly commemorate Shane MacGowan.