Victoria Mary Clarke said The Pogues frontman, who died aged 65, “pushed the boundaries of what humans can do to their bodies”.
The 57-year-old said while she loved watching him perform, it “wasn’t always easy” as he was “reckless and unconventional”.
She added: “It was like watching a racing driver and not knowing if they were going to crash.”
Shane had been diagnosed with encephalitis – inflammation of the brain – following his latest bout of ill-health and after years of alcohol and substance abuse, but died last week of complications from pneumonia. Victoria continued: “I think the biggest fear you probably have is that you’re going to lose a loved one. It’s going to happen.
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“I dreaded that and thought that I would fall apart. It’s not as bad as you think it’s going to be.”
She said there is a “huge amount of love” that comes your way after losing someone. Victoria added the outpouring of affection for Shane has been a welcome surprise, explaining they lived a quiet but “very happy” life. She added: “You lose with one hand, but you receive with the other.”
His hit song, Fairytale Of New York, a duet with Kirsty MacColl, is now battling to land the Christmas Number One spot.
Victoria told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “I don’t think [the tune getting to number one] was ever that important to him. He really appreciated that so many love it and it means so much to so many.
“I might have thought it was a little bit cheesy at the time. I do love it now.”
Shane’s funeral will be held at St Mary’s Of The Rosary Church in Nenagh, County Tipperary, on Friday and will be open to all. The cremation will be held privately
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