What does it mean to be Irish?... Kevin Kilbane

Published: Wed 16 Mar 2022, 6:29 PM

Starting something so personal is always the hardest part, but although born and raised in Preston, England, at no stage in my life did I ever feel like England is home and absolutely never felt English. Home was always Ireland, even though I didn’t get the chance to visit much growing up as money was extremely tight.

Growing up in England there was absolutely no sense of the suffering in Ireland amongst English people. I felt a total disregard throughout my schooling for Ireland. Looking back, maybe we did have to move on but I just felt differently. I felt there was always a negative and very prejudicial stance towards Irish people from within England. We were always defined as ‘thick Paddies’. Stereotyping Irish people has been widespread over the centuries and none more so than 1980s England. I hated it.

Of course, I’ve grown up and I’ve learnt to brush it off, but I’ve had my own identity questioned many times by Irish people who don’t necessarily see me as Irish.

When I was called up for England as a young footballer I just had to decline. I hadn’t had any contact with the FAI (Football Association of Ireland) and had never come onto their radar for selection. It may well have hindered my career (Sam Allardyce, my coach at the time, let it be known to me in no uncertain words that I was letting him, and my club Preston North End, down) but I just couldn’t wear the three lions and I could never stand for ‘God Save the Queen’ with pride.

Playing for Ireland to me meant standing for the anthem and playing for my people, and as cheesy as that sounds it meant everything to me. I’ll never forget my first call up for Ireland under 21s and the first time I stood for our anthem in Drogheda. I feel honoured and privileged to have represented my country over a hundred times in international football.