Event to unveil Shane mural

Community fundraiser on Sunday in Carney

A mural depicting celebrated singer/songwriter and musician Shane MacGowan will be officially unveiled at an event in Carney this Saturday evening, which will also include a novel fundraiser to support the community project.

Painted by the highly-regarded Tipperary artist Neil Dwyer, who also produced the striking image of the Pogues star at Emmet Place in Nenagh, this particular mural is inspired by a childhood photo featuring Shane on the back of a horse-drawn cart, surrounded by members of his family on his mother’s side (the Lynch’s), as well as a number of family friends. Beautifully colourful with a fresh green backdrop, the mural is wonderfully impressive and is expected to greatly enhance the ‘Unravelling Shane MacGowan’ tour, a 15-stop trail which winds its way through North Tipperary, Shane’s ancestral homeland. The late singer’s sister, Siobhán, will be present to cut the ribbon, as will Neil Dwyer himself.

In conjunction with the launch the Carney Village Committee have organised a rather creative and humorous fundraiser. A ‘Cow-a-Dunga’ competition will take place in the field adjacent to Johnny Ryan’s pub. The field has been divided into a square-based grid. Squares corresponding to the field will be sold on the night for a price of €5, and at 6pm a cow will be released into the field. Whichever square the cow relieves itself in first, the ticket owner will win €150. The overall objective of the fundraiser is to create some fun but also to finance the cost of the mural, half of which has already been covered by donations. Locals in Carney are looking forward to the entire spectacle, which will run from 5pm to 7pm and should have plenty of live music, banter and an electric atmosphere. However, the organisers are also appealing to the wider community to come on over to Carney and attend. A warm welcome is guaranteed.

Like other parts of North Tipperary, the Carney area is steeped in Shane's family history. The aforementioned Johnny Ryan’s pub is the fourth stop on the Unravelling tour and was previously frequented by some of Shane’s grand-uncles. It remains an integral component of the Carney community to this day, regularly hosting weekend music sessions. Not far from the pub is Carney Commons, Shane’s mother’s original homeplace.

Two-and-a-half years on from his passing, Shane MacGowan’s cultural legacy continues to shine.