Harry’s Irish family with him for game Kevin & Ray Lionhearts..
THE Irish family of England skipper Harry Kane believes their loved ones were looking down on him for last night’s historic Euro 2020 final.
Harry, 27, has strong Irish roots thanks to his Limerick granny and a Galway grandfather and has often visited this country over the years.
He put family heartache aside at Wembley to make history by leading the Three Lions against Italy –
England’s first final since 1966 – just days after the death of his grand uncle Paudge
Kane, a brother of Harry’s late grandad Michael John.
Harry’s cousin Pat
Fitzgerald, 62, from Co
Limerick, revealed to the Irish
Mirror that England captain Harry also had his grandmother Theresa
Fitzgerald looking after him from heaven.
Pat said: “My aunt Theresa Fitzgerald was Harry’s grandmother. She died a few years ago but we know that she was there for him for the final.
“After the death in the family in Galway, it would have been hard for
Harry to play, but he would have got the strength to set that aside to play the game.
“His teammates would have helped him and Theresa would have been there for him, too. She would have been very proud of Harry. She was a lovely lady. She would have been very happy for her grandson.
“I don’t think she was a soccer fan, but she would have watched the final for Harry. She would’ve been looking down from heaven on him.”
Theresa Fitzgerald left rural Caherline in Caherconlish, Co Limerick, and emigrated to England where she married Harry’s Galway grandfather Michael
John Kane.
Theresa’s grandfather Jim Flood – who is Harry Kane’s great-great grandad – was an All-ireland winner who helped Limerick to win its first senior hurling title in 1897.
Another Limerick cousin of Harry’s is Pat Hourigan, whose uncle is married to Theresa’s sister Phylis.
He said: “Sporting success is in Harry Kane’s DNA and maybe that’s where he gets his talent.”
When Harry was growing up, he was a regular visitor to Connemara, and was qualified to play for Ireland.
His cousin Liz Kane, from Letterfrack in Co Galway, revealed to the Irish Mirror that the family was grieving after the family funeral.
She said: “Harry was over for [his grandfather] Michael John’s funeral in 2013. He’s still connected to the area, but Covid has stopped him coming over.”
FORMER Ireland footballer Kevin Moran has revealed he wanted England to win Euro 2020 – while ex-big Brother star Ray Shah was even wearing one of the jerseys.
Ray, who decided to wear his red England top for the match, lives in Dublin but has supported England since childhood.
DJ Ray, 43, who was on Big Brother in 2003, was born in Essex and lived there until he and his family moved to Ireland in 1988. He said: “Pre-covid, I would have been down the pub with my friends and I would have been the only one supporting England.”
Ex-ireland midfielder Kevin, 65, added: “It’s true [that some Irish fans do not support England] and there are reasons for that and it goes back generations.
“You have to take that into consideration in the Irish psyche, but it is funny that people, who support English football teams, can’t get their heads around supporting England.”