POGUES icon Shane MacGowan enjoyed old episodes of Father Ted and was visited by some of the biggest names in rock in the months before his tragic death.
The legendary singer-songwriter passed away at his Dublin home today, just weeks before his 66th birthday.
Fairytale of New York star Shane had been battling ill health for a number of months and had been in and out of hospital on several occasions.
While he battled serious medical issues, a wide array of stars travelled over to Dublin to pay homage to the famed bard.
Shane was first hospitalised last December suffering from viral encephalitis – a serious condition which leads to brain swelling, which left him in pain.
Despite his obvious discomfort at the time, MacGowan wished his legions of fans well and “all the luck in the world”.
A sunglasses-wearing Shane said: “Hi friends, I’m sitting here suffering from encephalitis.
“The light is killing me. But I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year and Happy Christmas and many more.
“All the luck in the world and all the love. Happy Christmas and Happy New Year, love Shane.”
Discussing his illness at the time, Victoria explained: “I noticed it on his face. His eye was getting red and began to close over.
“I called the doctor and the doctor said it was very dangerous so we had to get him to the hospital straight away.
“The hospital explained to me that shingles can go into your brain and that’s what happened to Shane so now they want to keep him on a drip for two weeks.”
She added that MacGowan appeared “perfectly normal now” but “p***ed he can’t drink in the hospital”.
Although Victoria didn’t comment publicly on his health woes in recent months, she shared a social media post where she hinted at “pretty scary health challenges”.
She wrote: “A lot of the time life goes on as normal but sometimes things happen to shake things up and not necessarily in ways that you want.
“We have had some pretty scary health challenges in our family recently and it has been showing me that the idea of just trusting and going with the flow is not easy.
“The natural reaction for most of us when we are in a scary situation and a loved one is in danger of dying is to totally freak out and imagine the worst and it can be hard to stay positive and stay calm and strong and not collapse in a blubbering heap.”
After returning home earlier this year, Shane was hospitalised again in May as he continued to battle ill health.
Journalist Victoria told the Irish Sun how her hubby was recuperating by bingeing on Father Ted episodes.
She laughed: “So he wouldn’t get bored we brought a little DVD player into Shane and friends have been giving him presents of classic movies on DVD.
“But the thing he won’t stop playing is the Father Ted boxset. Shane watches that all day long and can’t stop laughing.”
She also told how the iconic songwriter was writing away from his hospital bed, adding: “Another visitor came in with a present of a recording device which Shane started using.
“He’s actually managed to write a song on it by singing into it. He’s been singing the song to people who’ve come in to see him.”
The brave star saw many of his A-list pals visit him in St Vincent’s Hospital and at home as he fought to recover from his condition.
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The Tipperary rocker was visibly thrilled when US megastar Bruce Springsteen visited during the Irish leg of his world tour.
The Born To Run legend was snapped paying homage to Shane and urging him to keep fighting in his health battle.
A star-struck Victoria explained: “It was really really exciting and monumentally inspiring to spend time with @springsteen yesterday.
“He radiates a very very beautiful energy, he is like an embodied angel!
“It’s great to see that someone can find work that they are lit up with and that they can spend their whole life lifting people’s spirits through their work and stay so enthusiastic and energetic and full of gratitude and grace and appreciation for the work and for everything and everyone in their life.
“I am quite sure that Bruce has not had an easy life and he works incredibly hard at his craft and he has to spend a great deal of time travelling but he’s full of joy and he is gracious and kind and compassionate and thoughtful and sincere and funny and playful and he loves with all of his heart so I am in awe!”
Shane’s spirits were lifted by number of fellow celebs who took the time to wish him well.
Fellow Pogue and long-term pal Spider Stacy was another famous friend who travelled over to see how he was doing.
Clarke said: “The handsome @spiderstacy @poguesofficial popped in to see @ShaneMacGowan yesterday and things are looking very positive! Really hoping he can get home soon!”
Country crooner Daniel O’Donnell and Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie surprised the star with a visit back in August, as Victoria explained: “Thank you Daniel O’Donnell and Bobby G for visiting Shane MacGowan you are so kind and thoughtful it’s so helpful.
“Prayers for everyone who is in hospital! And immensely grateful to all the staff!”
Long-term pal Imelda May was one of the final celebs to be granted an audience with Shane before he was discharged from hospital.
The Liberties native was snapped giving Shane a peck and described the stricken star as a “great kisser”.
Writer Victoria beamed: “Thank you so much to the beautiful @ImeldaOfficial for cheering up @ShaneMacGowan and giving us a sneak preview of your show about Kathleen Behan at the @3olympiatheatre.”
The ailing star also granted an audience to U2 stars Bono and the Edge, as well as Mullingar musical act the Cronin Brothers.
Victoria said: “Shane would never think of these people as celebrities. He just sees them as friends. You can get quite bored in hospital so it’s nice to have visitors.”
He was discharged from hospital last week shortly before he passed away this week.
