AN POST HAS today unveiled four new stamps honouring the life and music of Séamus Begley, Christy Dignam, Shane MacGowan and Sinéad O’Connor, all of whom died last year.
The four-stamp set is called ‘Iconic Irish Voices’.
The set set includes two ‘N’ National rate stamps showing portrait photographs of Séamus Begley and Christy Dignam, together with images of Shane MacGowan and Sinéad O’Connor on two ‘W’ stamps for posting worldwide.
The stamps will be available from tomorrow online and in selected post offices nationwide.
Each stamp is available in a sheet of four (€5.60 for national and €8.80 for international), as well as on a limited edition First Day Cover envelope, which costs €8.70 and features an image of a lone microphone stand cast in the spotlight.
An Post said the “simple, unadorned black and white portrait stamps” were designed by Shaughn McGrath of Shaughn McGrath Creative.
A spokesperson added that the images “highlight the artists’ humanity, strength and vulnerability”.
“Each image highlights both the artists’ eyes, looking boldly back at us, and their hands, which they used to inscribe and perform.”
Speaking at a private stamp unveiling for the featured artists’ families, An Post CEO David McRedmond remarked that it’s “still hard to accept that Christy, Séamus, Sinéad and Shane are no longer with us”.
He added that “each of them shone brightly and bravely throughout their lives, bringing good times, inspiration and joy to millions upon millions of people”.
McRedmond said An Post is “greatly honoured on behalf of the people of Ireland to release these special stamps as symbol of the nation’s respect and pride in their musical genius and their impact on the world”.
Meanwhile, Séamus Begley’s family said the stamp is a “wonderful recognition of the impact that Séamus had on people”.
Kiera Dignam, daughter of Aslan lead singer Christy Dignam said: “Our family are deeply touched to have my Dad honoured in such a beautiful way by A Post.
“Knowing his humour, to be on a stamp is definitely something he would giggle about, it’s like he’s Irish Royalty!”
Victoria Mary Clarke, wife of The Pogues’ Shane MacGowan, said Shane would be “exceptionally proud and delighted to be honoured with a stamp from An Post” as he was “very interested in the stamps and often spoke about how much he loved them”.
“He saw the Irish postage stamps as symbolic of our freedom from Britain and our status as an independent republic, the fact that we could issue our own stamps without the head of the British monarch was very important to him,” said Victoria Mary Clare.
And on behalf of Sinead O’Connor’s family, her former husband John Reynolds said it was a “great honour for the Irish State to remember her in such a dignified way while we all still mourn her loss and the loss of her fellow musical greats”.
Meanwhile, as part of Culture Night, An Post, in collaboration with Music Network Ireland, is running a free event in the GPO on Friday, 20 September for a special instrumental performance of songs celebrating the four musicians.
There will be four, 15-minute performances at 6:30pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, 8pm.
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