Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Harry’s Irish relatives proud he took stand
THE Irish arm of Harry Kane’s family has praised England’s World Cup skipper for wanting to defy the host country’s laws against homosexuality.
Kane, 29, who has family in Galway and Limerick, was set to protest against Qatar’s rules against the LGBT+ community.
Harry’s cousin Pat Fitzgerald, 63, told the Mirror that Harry “made his point” – and will not let the controversy “distract his focus”.
He said: “He stood up for the rights, but they are in the wrong country for protests to be allowed. It’s very strict over there.
“Harry wanted to wear the [rainbow] armband, but he won’t let it distract him now. He’ll put it all to one side for the matches.”
Pat added: “It won’t affect him, I don’t think so anyway. He’ll have the football on his mind.
“He made a stance, he raised the issue, he made the point. He did his best.”
Kane and the captains of six other federations – Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Wales – were set to wear the rainbow armbands.
Harry was to be the first when England faced Iran in the first game of Group B yesterday afternoon.
But a joint statement from the seven European nations confirmed the switch.
It stated: “FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play.”
Harry could have played football for Ireland thanks to a Limerick grandmother and a Galway grandfather. He put family heartache aside in 2021 when he led England out at Wembley for the Euro 2020 Final – the country’s first final since 1966 – just days after the death of his grand uncle Paudge Kane. Paudge was a brother of Harry’s late Galway granddad Michael John Kane, who moved to England in the 1950s.
Before the final, which Italy won on penalties, Harry’s cousin Pat said Harry’s grandmother Theresa Fitzgerald would be looking after him from heaven.
Theresa left rural Caherline in Caherconlish, Co Limerick, and emigrated to England where she married Harry’s Galway granda Michael John Kane.
Theresa’s grandfather Jim Flood – who is Harry’s great-great granda – was an All-ireland winner who helped Limerick to a first senior hurling title in 1897.
Harry’s granda Michael John Kane maintained a close link with Letterfrack and Tullycross and often visited with Harry’s dad Pat and Harry.
When fluent Irish speaker Michael John died in 2013, he was buried back in Connemara with famous grandson Harry at the funeral.
Just before Euro 2020, Harry’s Galway cousin Liz Kane, from Letterfrack, revealed that he sent a good luck video message to exam pupils at Clifden Community School.
Limerick cousin Pat said yesterday: “We wish Harry good luck at the World Cup and know he will score more goals.
“He didn’t have any warm up games, so it’s hard to know if he’s in form, but we all hope that he will do well.”
Harry made a stance, he raised the issue. He did his best PAT FITZGERALD YESTERDAY