A journey inspired by Pogues singer Shane MacGowan
Launch of tour brochure
At Tipperary’s recent Broad Majestic Shannon Festival, in conjunction with Shane’s sister, Siobhan MacGowan, and wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, Tipperary County Council/Discover Lough Derg unveiled the brochure that will accompany the newly launched Shane MacGowan tour. Fans of the legendary Shane MacGowan are invited to take a deeply personal journey through the places that inspired one of Ireland’s most iconic songwriters.
The tour has been created in response to the worldwide influx of visitors to Nenagh, Lough Derg and the surrounding area since MacGowan’s death, coming in search of his roots.
Offering fans an intimate glimpse into Shane’s Tipperary roots and creative influences, and curated with original materials, family photographs and childhood sketches, generously shared by Siobhán MacGowan and Victoria Mary Clarke, the brochure maps out Shane’s most treasured places in Tipperary, inviting you to walk the roads he loved and discover the spirit of the people and places that shaped him. The landscapes, pubs, and tranquil corners that served as the backdrop to his life and lyrics.
At the brochure’s launch, Lough Derg Tourism Officer, Carmel Ormond, announced that the brochure is Phase One of a three-phase project. Phase Two will introduce an interactive/digital element to the tour, including a specially selected playlist of Shane’s songs evoking places on the trail, and the erection of plaques with lyrics on those sites. For Phase Three, a possible opening of Shane’s famous Carney homestead, featured in so many books and films, is now being explored.
At the festival, Victoria Mary Clarke said that Shane “being celebrated in his native Tipperary would be like winning ten Oscars for him,” while Siobhan MacGowan said of her brother that he had “always wanted to put this beloved Shannon area on the map and now he truly has”.
Anyone who wishes to obtain a physical copy of the brochure can do so by emailing Nenagh Tourist Office at nenaghtouristoffice@tipperarycoco.ie
And the brochure can be downloaded here: https://discoverloughderg.ie/project/unravelling-the-shane-macgowan-tour/