Shane MacGowan’s widow has admitted New Year’s Eve can be “really challenging”.
Victoria Mary Clarke, who was by Shane’s side when he died on 30 November aged 65 after being hit with a series of illnesses that left him hospitalised, including pneumonia, added the night piles pressure on people to party and be “jolly”.
She said in her latest Instagram update on how she is coping with her grief in the wake of the ‘Fairytale of New York’ singer’s death: “New Year’s Eve can be really challenging!!! We can’t help feeling pressure to party (party popper emoji) and be jolly and happy (smiling face emoji.)
“But sometimes it’s possible to settle for feeling peace of mind and gratitude for everything that you already have. Sending love (red heart emoji) and peace vibes to everyone everywhere for 2024.”
Victoria’s post comes after she admitted she is in grief counselling.
She added in the post she would have been “delighted” to have been shot dead to stop her pain before she sought out therapy.
Victoria told fans alongside a throwback picture of Shane in the Dublin home where he died surrounded by loved ones: “Grief can hit you like a tornado when you are back to normal life and you are not running around doing stuff.
“Yesterday if someone had offered to shoot me I would have been delighted but today I did some grief counselling and I made pasta sauce and the idea of giving up seems mad.
“I think grief can drive people mad but if you let it out if you cry and wail and talk about it you can feel it moving and it brings you back to life (five red heart emojis.)”
Victoria also recently told fans she has comforted herself by going to the church mass Shane “loved”.
