Given family suffers double Christmas bereavement

The Given family in east Donegal - the family of former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given - suffered a double heartbreak on Christmas week.

Kieran Given, Shay’s brother, passed away in Germany on December 23 while their uncle Ambrose Given died on Christmas Day. Both passed away following recent illness.

Kieran, formerly of Rossgier in Lifford, died peacefully at his home in Altensteig, Germany, where his funeral takes place today.

Kiran is survived by his devoted wife Doris and two sons, Joshua and Joel. He will also be missed by his father Seamus, stepmother Margaret, brothers, Liam, Marcus, Shay and Paul and sisters, Michelle, Sinéad and Jacqueline.

A family notice on rip.ie says Kieran was also much loved and will be sadly missed by the extended family ‘and many friends in Donegal and in his adopted home in Germany’.

Ambrose, late of Knockagarron, Convoy, was laid to rest on Thursday following Funeral mass in St Mary’s Church, Convoy.

He passed away on Christmas Day at the Donegal Hospice after a short illness.

Ambrose was predeceased by his son Ambrose. He is survived by his wife Sheila, daughters Patricia, Marion, Helena, Clare and Catherine, sons-in-law Kevin, George, Alan, Michael and Fionn and grandchildren, brother, sisters, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews and a wide circle of family and friends.

Ambrose was stalwart of the St Mary’s GAA club in Convoy, who paid tribute, saying: “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.”