Personal Life
Given married Jane Cunningham in Hexham, England, in a Catholic ceremony in 2001. The couple received a Papal Blessing from His Holiness Pope John Paul II, himself an amateur goalkeeper in his youth. They have two children: a boy, Shayne, born in 2004, and a girl, Sienna, born in 2007. In 2006 Given was awarded the Freedom of County Donegal in a ceremony in his home town, Lifford. He follows the Donegal Gaelic football team and witnessed their first All-Ireland success in 1992.
Given has also helped organise several successful 'Fashion Kicks' fundraising events, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. His mother died of cancer when he was five, so he has continually tried to raise money as it is an issue close to him.
On 27 November 2011, Given was brought to tears during a minute of silence for former team-mate and personal friend Gary Speed after he took his own life the day before Aston Villa met Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.
Read more about this topic: Shay Given
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