Shane McGowan’s Mother Therese Killed In First Road Tragedy of 2017

The elderly mother of Pogues singer Shane McGowan has been killed in a single vehicle collision in Tipperary. Therese Mc Gowan (87) was driving alone when her Toyota Avensis hit a wall at Ballintoher outside Nenagh at approximately 3pm on Sunday. The Irish Independent reports that Gardaí are investigating the possibility she may have suffered a heart attack before the crash. Mrs McGowan, who is survived by her husband Maurice, has been taken to University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem is due to be carried out. Shane, who turned 59 on Christmas Day, credits his mother, a keen singer and dancer in her youth, for inspiring in him his love of Irish music. The Fairytale of New York star, who lives in Dublin with his partner, journalist Victoria Mary Clark, has not released a statement on his family's loss. A neighbour told the Irish Mirror: “It’s such a tragedy given the time of year. “She was a lady and it’s going to be tough for the family." Main image: The Irish Mirror/ Hulton Archive