Mystery behind Shane MacGowan’s missing prized 1916 rifle solved as star’s pal poses with gun before returning to family
A RARE rifle used in the 1916 Rising belonging to Shane MacGowan is set to be returned to his family.
Our exclusive photo shows the late star’s close pal and former manager, Joey Cashman, posing with the historical relic, which was gifted to Shane on his 60th birthday by Glen Hansard.
MacGowan’s friend of many decades last night told how the Irish Rover rocker had asked him to look after the artifact in case having it around the house was a worry for his wife Victoria Mary Clarke.
The Irish Sun revealed earlier this month how the “piece of history” could not be located, to the dismay of Shane’s loved-ones who launched a worldwide campaign to find it.
The weapon used in the Easter Rebellion is a Lee-Enfield 303 and given its historical significance is believed to be quite valuable.
After Shane’s sister Siobhan told us the family were desperate to be reunited with the heirloom, Joey confirmed he was in possession of the beloved gun and made plans to send it back.
The rock manager explained that Shane decided not to keep the rifle at home anymore to avoid it making his wife feel uncomfortable about it being in the house.
Joey said: “So he asked me would I look after it for him. And of course I said yeah, I’d look after it for him for as long as you want.
“So now it’s going down to the family in Tipperary, down to Siobhan and of course Maurice, his father, Siobhan is the sister and Anto, her husband.
“It was a present to Shane on his 60th and it meant a lot to him.
“He was so proud of it. He was a history fanatic, especially to do with anything regarding Irish history.”
On his enduring friendship with MacGowan, Joey said: “I was with him from 1995 to 2015.
“We lived together for nine years – two years in the Commons in Tipperary, about four years in Dublin and two years in Howth.”
After Joey contacted Siobhan about the weapon last week, Victoria confirmed it had been located.
She tweeted: “I just wanted to say Shane’s rifle has been found.
‘So grateful’
“I am so grateful to everyone who has helped.
“Shane had asked his friend Joey to look after a few years ago in case it made me nervous to have it in the house!”
Shane — who passed away last November aged 65 after a brave battle with ill health — was moved to tears by the memento, which was gifted to him by Oscar winner Glen at a family bash in Tipperary.
Siobhan recently told The Irish Sun how much the treasured gift meant to his friends and family.
‘It was so lovely’
She said: “It was given to him on his 60th birthday in Tipperary, with just family and friends there, it was so lovely. We all got to see it.
“Shane absolutely adored anything to do with history, so to see him so emotional after receiving that, it was a really special occasion.
“We all saw him get it and how much it meant to him and then we were all posing up with it — this piece of history!
“We are all trying to track it down because it would be such a shame if it were somehow lost.
“It was something so special to Shane and to his family, and I suppose the message would be to please keep an eye out for this valuable piece of family treasure, because we want it back.”
Rifle search
The search began when life coach and author Victoria revealed the Rising rifle could not be found.
She posted on social media: “Shane’s 1916 rifle has gone missing.
“It was a birthday gift to Shane from a dear musician friend and it was used in the GPO, so it was historically significant.
“It was a Lee-Enfield 303 and has H Munn etched on it.”
The Lee-Enfield is a bolt-action repeating rifle.
It was the main firearm of the military forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth during the first half of the 20th century.