Tipperary music world in mourning following untimely death of local legend Shay Spain

The music world in Tipperary and around the country was in mourning this week following the untimely death of Nenagh music legend Shay Spain.

A drummer with the successful The Conquerors band, Mr Spain was highly thought of in the music world.

Along with his family, he was also heavily involved in running gigs, providing sound systems to many touring bands throughout the entire island of Ireland through SpainAV. 

Among those who paid tribute to him were music legends Mick Foster and Tony Allan and Tipperary's Louise Morrissey.

One tribute posted to him said: "When I found out that my close friend Shay Spain, who had worked in the music industry, had passed away as a result of a horrible accident, I was immediately put into a state of immense melancholy."

Another said: "May his music and talents continue in the next world."

Another tribute said: "The Spains were always so generous, a quality that Shay also carried. His father Jim was heavily involved with the Kilruane juvenile club carrying players to training and even county matches in Limerick Gaelic Grounds. The amount of effort involved in hurling practice may have nudged Shay to take up the drum sticks rather than the hurling sticks!"

As an indication of how involved in music Shay was, one tribute from Donegal said: "I had the pleasure of a conversation with him on the night of the concert for Creeslough. Such a magnanimous man . You couldn’t help but love him."

Shay, Millview, Toomevara, and late of Moanfin, Kilruane, died suddenly, but peacefully in the care of the wonderful staff of University Hospital, Limerick.

Much loved and will be missed by his family. Wife Madge, sons David, Alan and Jason and brothers and sisters Liam, Rodge, Tricia and Mary. His adored grandchildren, Lucy, Jack, Séamus, Nia and Daithí, daughters in law, nieces, nephews, relatives, good neighbours and friends.

May Shay rest in peace.

Reposing at Ryan’s Funeral Home, Nenagh (E45 KN93) this Tuesday, May 9, from 5pm until 7pm. Funeral arriving on Wednesday, May 10, for Requiem Mass at St Mary’s of the Rosary Church, Nenagh, at 1pm. Livestream of the Mass can be viewed on https://nenaghparish.ie/ followed by burial in the Square Graveyard, Toomevara.