Shane McGowan RIP

I haven't made up anything. You're misreading. I don't know how any of what you've posted relates to what I wrote. I know Shane MacGowan is free thinking Catholic. You're just getting irate because you're finding it hard to understand the complexity of it. Shane MacGowan just didn't respect the church, priests, or catholicism like you think he did. Just because he talked a priest into doing what he wanted to do at his Mass doesn't mean he believed in the church or any priests.

Shane MacGowan's words: “I believe in one great spiritual entity,” says Shane, “which the Catholic Church calls God, and which I call the Tao. It’s the same thing. People say that the Christian church in Ireland was overlaid on a pagan culture,, using the word ‘pagan’ as a slur… but all the ancient religions of the world have the same basic idea of an all-enveloping creative being or force, which the old Irish religion represented by a circle, because they worshipped the sun… Patrick inscribed a cross over the circle, although the cross is a mandala anyway. The mandala of Christ, the crucifix, is a strong protective thing and guide. I feel a lot better with a Gaelic cross around my neck…”

It's difficult to know where being 'mad for attention' and just trying to cope with grief would begin and end, and it must be harder again for someone viewing the whole thing from the distance and not really knowing the minds of the people involved and the mix of intense emotions they're probably feeling.

Philomena Lynott struck me as fairly eccentric, but also as being very proud of her son and protective of his legacy. Did she enjoy a sense of relevance for herself through her association with Phil? It's definitely possible, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing because it's generally good to have a sense of purpose and place. It never seemed to me like she was trying to make things about herself.

Good story by Sean O'Hagan about Shane McGowan in Kings Cross, back in the days when Fairytale of New York was no2.

A strange take. Sure if they don't give a monkeys stay out of a church. I was raised RC but now believe in nothing however I am always respectful of someone else's place of worship. The RC and by extension priests are the custodians of God's house. Of course they get to decide what is allowed. I wouldn't rock up to your house and do as I pleased, why is this any different.

As to embarrassed to be Irish comments, I don't get that at all. Someone in Tipp confusing a pew for a hurdle is no reflection on me at all however I can still shake my head at the lack of decorum.

You have no idea how reassuring it is to know that "normally you're not on the same page " as me.

This was their answer to criticism form certain quarters 😀

I enjoyed all of their instrumentals the Battle Charge Medley being a particular favourite.

Brother back home at Xmas, and was going through his old vinyl collection which he built up between 1980 and 1988 when he left.

Came across Red Roses for me and Rum Sodomy and the Lash along with a four track EP called Poguetry in Motion which included a classy fcuk you to Planxty who had some derogatory remarks about the Pogues previously

.https://open.spotify.com/album/5cN82vKT7doS8kTAFD7CyC?si=upno_iVMTnGNCQIo-OHIrg&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A5cN82vKT7doS8kTAFD7CyC

Two other records which will make sense to Pogue fans