A GAA club in Tipperary has released a commemorative jersey in honour of the late Shane MacGowan, with the blessing of his family.
MacGowan, a British-born Irish singer-songwriter and musician, was best known as the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the Celtic punk band The Pogues.
The singer of "Fairytale of New York" passed away on November 30 and has since received several tributes.
MacGowan, who spent his early childhood in Tipperary, Ireland, has now been honoured with a commemorative jersey from Tipperary GAA side Shannon Rovers.
"Introducing the Shannon Rovers Limited Edition Shane MacGowan Commemorative Jersey—a tribute to a legendary figure and a proud son of our GAA club. Crafted with passion and precision by O'Reilly Sports, this exclusive jersey pays homage to the iconic frontman of The Pogues, celebrating the spirit of both music and GAA," said the first part of the statement.
MacGowan's great-grandfather, John Lynch, the first chairman of the club, also features on the jersey.
Each jersey showcases an iconic photograph of MacGowan along with lyrics from 'The Broad Majestic Shannon,' a composition by MacGowan for The Pogues' third album.
Shannon Rovers GAA are delighted to launch our limited edition Shane MacGowan commemorative jersey.
We would like to thank the MacGowan family for allowing us to produce such a fantastic tribute to Shane and his work.https://t.co/hwyMIyQwR2#shanemacgowan #thepogues— Shannon Rovers GAA (@SRoversGAA) December 25, 2023
The reverse side of the jersey features an image that has adorned the walls of the Shannon clubhouse, portraying a tin can and an aged sliotar, inspired by the song's lyrics on the Pogues song "The Broad Majestic Shannon."
"Shannon Rovers meant a lot to Shane, and fittingly, a significant part of the offertory at his funeral was a Tipperary flag, a sliotar, and a Shannon Rovers jersey. Shane’s great-grandfather, John Lynch, was indeed the first chairman of the club. It is particularly fitting for John Lynch to feature on our commemorative jersey alongside Shane, whose genius with words and music has left a lasting legacy that will endure worldwide for many generations to come," they added in their statement.
"Shane loved hearing stories of John Lynch and his affiliation with Shannon Rovers GAA and was very proud of his connections.
"Shannon Rovers GAA would like to thank the MacGowan family for allowing us to produce such a fantastic tribute to Shane and his work."
The jerseys, which come in a choice of black, white, and red, can be pre-ordered now, with the men's and women's costing €54 and the children's costing €45.
Click here for more information.
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