Where is Shane MacGowan’s 1916 Rifle?

We are sad to report that a Lee Enfield rifle, used in the 1916, Rising, belonging to the late great Shane MacGowan, has gone missing.

The Lee Enfield 303 rifle was used by volunteers during Easter Week, and was given as a present to Shane MacGowan for his 60th birthday by fellow singer Glen Hansard. It has disappeared, thought to have been taken, possibly as a joke, from his home.

The rifle has major emotional significance to Shane’s widow, Victoria, as it was used during the occupation of the GPO in 1916. It brought the singer some joy after being given as a present.

“Shane was not a materialistic person,” Victoria says, explaining that mementos given to him by friends were valued by him much more than “flashy stuff.”

Notably, the gun was already decommissioned, so “it’s not as if it can even be used for it’s original purpose,” Victoria added.

@frankarmstrong2 accompanies former Pogues' front man Shane MacGowan on a night crossing across the Irish Sea before the launch of his London exhibitionhttps://t.co/P4lJ3LUyZ1@ShaneMacGowan @Victoriamary @andipagallery @dineensparish @KevinHIpoet1967 @EwanMacKenna

— CassandraVoices (@VoicesCassandra) October 17, 2022

Resale Value

Typically stolen art and antiques may fetch 10 – 25% of full market value, as the object can never be sold on the open market again when it is known that it does not legally belong to the vendor.

In this instance, as the unusable gun was bought for €2,000, this suggests that resale value may only be worth €200 – €500, in the event that the object is identifiable as having been acquired through misappropriation.

Crucially, the value of art and antiques is all about the provenance – the story behind it, and where it came from.

In this instance, as the gun has “H Munn” inscribed on the wooden butt, the artifact is particularly identifiable – and thus possibly of even less resale value than otherwise.

Frank Armstrong explores the importance of Catholicism to Shane MacGowan, and an unlikely link to the poet W.B. Yeats after attending his funeral in Nenagh.https://t.co/jmsBsnMl5O@Victoriamary @journalofmusic @amandaknox @paddycosgrave @ShaneMacGowan @poguesofficial

— CassandraVoices (@VoicesCassandra) December 18, 2023

Conscience

Ultimately, the person who took it may want to look into their conscience and consider whether holding onto it at the cost of distressing his widow is worth the hassle.

Alternatively, should the taker fail to find their conscience, it may be in their interest to evaluate whether the prospect of being prosecuted for criminal larceny is worth the while for something of relatively little monetary value – as well as facing potential ire from his army of fans on later dates.

Speaking to Victoria, she says that “whoever took it probably didn’t mean any harm” and it “was possibly a joke” but that she “would love to get it back, no questions asked.”

If it can be found, Cassandra Voices is happy to accept the artifact with no questions asked, and return it to Victoria. Just drop us a line: [email protected].