An Post has unveiled a set of new stamps in honour of four Irish music legends who recently passed away.

The stamps feature Séamus Begley, Christy Dignam, Shane MacGowan and Sinéad O’Connor, all of whom died in 2023.

Entitled ‘Iconic Irish Voices’, the four-stamp set honours their contributions to Irish life and music.

The four stamps honouring Irish musicians that have recently died. Image: An Post

Séamus Begley and Christy Dignam feature on ‘N’ National rate stamps for posting in Ireland, while Shane MacGowan and Sinéad O’Connor feature on ‘W’ stamps for posting worldwide.The four stamps honouring Irish musicians that have recently died. Image: An Post

Available from tomorrow, each stamp is available on a sheet of four as well as on a limited edition First Day Cover envelope featuring an image of a lone microphone stand in the spotlight.

Sinéad O'Connor performing on stage in Dorset

At a private stamp unveiling for the featured artists’ families, An Post CEO David McRedmond said it is “still hard to accept” that the legendary musicians are no longer with us.

“Each of them shone brightly and bravely throughout their lives, bringing good times, inspiration and joy to millions upon millions of people,” he said.

“They were proud Irish artists whose work explored - often critically - our identity as a people.

“We are greatly honoured on behalf of the people of Ireland to release these special stamps as a symbol of the nation’s respect and pride in their musical genius and their impact on the world.”

Speaking on behalf of Sinéad O’Connor’s family, John Reynolds said it was a great honour for Sinéad to be included in the stamp set and for the Irish State to remember her in such a dignified way.

Shane MacGowan of The Pogues performing live on stage at V Festival. Image: Daniel Jones / Alamy

Shane MacGowan’s wife Victoria Mary Clarke said: “Shane would be exceptionally proud and delighted to be honoured with a stamp from An Post.”

“He was a passionate Irish man with a huge love for Ireland and its history and culture and he was very interested in the stamps and often spoke about how much he loved them,” she said.

“He saw 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.”

Christy Dignam speaks at Pendulum Summit in the Dublin Convention Centre in January 2020. Picture by: NurPhoto SRL / Alamy Stock Photo

Christy Dignam’s daughter Kiera said: “Our family are deeply touched to have my Dad honoured in such a beautiful way by An Post.”

“Knowing his humour, to be on a stamp is definitely something he would giggle about, it’s like he’s Irish Royalty,” she said.

Séamus Begley’s family said the stamp was a “wonderful recognition of the impact that Séamus had on people and we as a family are very proud and very grateful to An Post for this honour”.

The simple, unadorned black and white portrait stamps were designed by Shaughn McGrath of Shaughn McGrath Creative.

The images aim to highlight the artists’ humanity, strength and vulnerability – with each one highlighting both the artists’ eyes and their hands, which they used to write and perform.