- Given’s brother Kieran, a singer-songwriter based in Germany, died on the 23rd
- Their uncle Ambrose passed away at the Donegal Hospice on Christmas Day
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Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given suffered a heartbreaking double family bereavement over the Christmas period.
Given, 47, who played in the Premier League for Newcastle United, Manchester City and Aston Villa, lost his brother Kieran on December 23 and their uncle Ambrose Given on Christmas Day.
Both passed away following battles with illness.
Kieran, who was a popular singer-songwriter and artist hailing from Rossgier in Lifford, County Donegal, died peacefully at his home in Altensteig, Germany, where his funeral took place on Saturday.
A family notice posted on the website RIP.ie read: ‘Kieran is survived by his devoted wife Doris and his 2 sons Joshua and Joel.
Ireland legend Shay Given has suffered a heartbreaking double family bereavement
Kieran Given (right), a singer-songwriter based in Germany, passed away on December 23 following a fight with illness. He is pictured with Shay (left) and their father Seamus
‘He is loved and will be sadly missed by his father Seamus, stepmother Margaret, brothers, Liam, Marcus, Shay & Paul and sisters, Michelle, Sinéad and Jacqueline along with his nieces and nephews, extended family and many friends in Donegal and in his adopted home in Germany.’
Given’s uncle Ambrose passed away on Christmas Day at the Donegal Hospice
Ambrose, late of Knockagarron, Convoy, died at the Donegal Hospice on Christmas Day, his death notice said. He was laid to rest following funeral mass at St Mary’s Church, Convoy on December 28.
Mayo Live reported Ambrose was a stalwart at St Mary’s GAA Club in Convoy, who wrote in a tribute: ‘Thank you for everything you’ve done for the wee club The pitch and grounds would not be there without your efforts and our other stalwarts who work tirelessly in the background.’
Shay Given, who won 134 caps for Ireland over two decades, lost his mum Agnes to lung cancer when he was just four and has since raised thousands for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Speaking previously about grief, he said: ‘My dad had a tough time of course, there were six of us at the time. It was very tough for him.
‘There is a story in the book [his autobiography Any Given Saturday] about my aunties who offered through love to take a couple of kids each to try and share the burden on my dad but he was having none of it.
A picture of musician Kieran Given from his Instagram page – he passed away on December 23
Given in action for Manchester City in 2010 during his long and successful playing career
‘She told him to take care of the kids and don’t split them up. My dad deserves great credit.
‘I used it as a strength while playing football. I’d say a few prayers before a game, pray to her and I think she was there helping me all the time. You hope she’d be proud of you looking down.’
