SHAY: LIFE IS TOUGH AT TIMES
Ex-ireland ace Given opens up on losses
VIEWERS heaped praise on Shay Given following his raw interview with Tommy Tiernan about the impact grief has had on his life.
The former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper was the first guest on the RTE show at the weekend where he spoke about his early career and life up to now.
The conversation shifted to the death of Shay’s mother aged 41 when he was just four, and the tragic passing of his brother aged 52 last Christmas.
Following on from talk of Shay’s time as a youth at Celtic before a successful spell at Blackburn Rovers and 12 years at Newcastle United, Tommy, 54, asked Shay about the death of his mother.
The 47-year-old Donegal man replied: “I get emotional when I talk about her.
“You know nowadays when someone passes, you get help and stuff, you get counselling. We didn’t have that at the time. My dad just had to just get on with it sort of thing. You know, the typical Irish thing, just ‘move on’.”
Shay also described how he was able to use the death of his mother at such a young age as some sort of motivation through his career. He said: “My mum passing, I used it as a strength. I really did, when I played and when I trained, trying to make her proud.
“I know it’s not a positive losing your mum so young, but I tried to use it as a positive, if that makes sense.
“There’s that big person in your life as a four-year-old.
“My youngest is six now and I think if her mum passed away, I think I’d be like ‘wow, how would she cope? She couldn’t cope’.” Shay hailed his stepmother,
Margaret, for stepping in to fill the maternal hole left in the lives of him and his five siblings.
A second massive blow to his life came last Christmas when Shay lost his 52-year-old brother Kieran who was a father of two boys.
Shay said: “He was sick for a year or so, and then he passed away on 23 December and my uncle passed away on 25 [of December]. Life is tough at times.” Shay described Kieran’s trip to his home county of Donegal towards the end of his life while he was undergoing last-ditch treatment in Manchester to cure his cancer.
Shay said: “No one said it but we all knew it was his last trip home. For my dad who is going to be 80 this year, it was a tough one on him. He just felt like he was reliving losing my mum.” He continued: “A child shouldn’t [pass away] before his parent. I know you read all the sayings and cliches and they are easier read but they say live each day like it’s your last.
“I know you can’t go around going mental, you have to have a plan in life, but at the same time be grateful for what you have and look forward to tomorrow.”
Only two days after his brother’s death, Shay suffered another devastating blow when his uncle passed away on Christmas Day.
Viewers were quick to pay tribute to the former Ireland keeper on social media. One user wrote: “I have always liked Shay Given but hearing his backstory, the guy is the definition of a hero.”
Another woman added: “Mum died when I was 11 so can totally relate to Shay Given. Often wonder what could have/should have been.”
Be grateful for what you have and look forward
SHAY GIVEN ON HIS APPROACH TO LIFE