Given granted freedom of Donegal

Newcastle United and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given was awarded the freedom of Donegal at a civic reception in his own hometown Lifford today.

Speaking at the ceremony, the 30-year-old said that he was honoured to receive the award.

“It is a fantastic day for me and it is a very proud day for my family,” said Given. “15 years ago, I drove around this town selling fruit and vegetables and if you’d said then that I’d be back today getting the freedom of the county, I’d have said you were off your head.”

Donegal County Mayor, Dessie Larkin, and the County Manager, Michael Mc Loone addressed the large attendance in a packed Council Chamber at the County House. Both paid tribute to Given saying that he was both a “fantastic ambassador” and a “superb role model”.

Given, who has 74 international caps for his country and 380 appearances for Newcastle to his name, agreed that he would have liked to have waited a month or two for the occasion as he’d rather be away plying his trade in Germany with Ireland.

“Yeah I’d love to be in Germany and I’m sure everyone in this room would love to be in Germany too,” he said.

“We just didn’t do well enough in our qualifying games and that’s what it boils down to so we didn’t deserve to be there. But, it is difficult to watch the World Cup and Ireland not being there.”