Shane MacGowan's Widow Finds Solace on the Water, Nine Months After His Death
Victoria Mary Clark, widow of the late Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan, has returned to social media with a radiant photograph taken aboard a yacht. The post, shared nine months after MacGowan's death in November 2023, finds Clark reflecting on the "deep and turbulent waters" she has navigated since her husband's passing.
MacGowan, a beloved figure in Irish music, died at the age of 65 in Dublin, surrounded by his family. He had been battling viral encephalitis for several years. Clark, a journalist and writer, began dating MacGowan in 1986, and the pair married in 2018.
Despite the pain of her loss, Clark finds solace in the enduring nature of their love. She writes in her Instagram post: "I still feel Shane's love... Sometimes he talks to me through ideas or music and sometimes he comes through mediums, always it feels amazing to hear from him."
Clark, who met MacGowan when she was just 16, describes him as her "soulmate," a connection she believes she may never find again. Speaking on the "What a Woman" podcast in June, she shared: "When you have a soulmate, you just feel so at one with them. It's a very deep connection that I've never had with anyone else and I don't even know if it's possible to have it with anyone else."
Clark's journey since MacGowan's passing has been marked by both immense grief and moments of healing. She finds comfort in staying present, feeling the sun and the water, and surrounding herself with loved ones.
"It's been a revelation to me to discover how much joy it's possible to feel even when you are living with extreme loss," she writes. "And love is far more powerful than we know. I believe you can be âIn Loveâ in every moment that you choose to live with heart and embody love and from your heart you will always find courage no matter how much sorrow is also there."
While navigating the depths of her grief, Clark finds strength in the memories of their love and the belief that MacGowan's spirit continues to reach out to her. Her words offer a poignant reminder of the enduring power of love, even in the face of immense loss.
