ROBBIE KEANE SAYS he knew nothing about his family ties to Morrissey until the singer shocked him with the news last month.
Ireland’s record goalscorer and The Smiths’ frontman met in Los Angeles when Morrissey showed up at an LA Galaxy pre-season match and afterwards stunned Keane by revealing that the two are in fact distant relatives.
It emerged that Keane’s late grandfather and Morrissey’s father are cousins while the singer’s mother, Elizabeth, lived alongside Keane’s family on Captains Road in Crumlin.
“In filial terms the Irish blood, English heart genetic between Robbie and I is evident,” Morrissey wrote afterwards on fan zine True to You. “His chin is my chin, my chin is his.”
Speaking in Dublin today, where he was launching the “Future Football” partnership between McDonald’s and the FAI, Keane said that the news came as a complete surprise to him.
“I didn’t know obviously until he told me. Then I asked my mother, ‘Why did you not tell me this? Surely someone in the family, in the 32 years I’ve been around, surely someone must have said it.’
“The uncles have been saying it for years but she didn’t think to tell me.”
Since meeting the two have kept in touch with Keane — who was once famously spied at a karaoke night in Malahide pub Gibney’s — getting to know his “cousin’s” music.
“He’s given me CDs of himself — I asked him — and I went to see his gig in the Staples Centre a few weeks ago in LA.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve become very close but we speak to each other, send each other texts and emails. He’s a very nice guy and I’ve got a lot of time for him. He’s a very interesting guy and he certainly loves Ireland, I know that.”
There is a chance, Keane added, that the man who famously sang about his “Irish blood, English heart” might pay a visit to watch the national team in action some time soon.
“He loves watching us. He came to watch one of our games in the Galaxy and really enjoyed it so hopefully we’ll get him over.”
It was Robbie’s boyhood dream to be related to Morrissey.
He always wanted to ‘play’ for him.
Morrissey has a cracking song called ‘Roys Keen’ (about a peeping Tom window cleaner no less)
Maybe Robbies Keener!?
All in all Viva-Morrissey and I hope he gets well soon.
To die by your side the pleasure the privilege is mine
I’m sure this meat was murder for him.
News flash **Morrissey gets late callup to replace injured Walters in Irish squad to play Sweden.
Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before.
A living legend (and Robbie Keane)
And heaven knows he’s definitely miserable now
“Partnership between McDonalds and the F.A.I.”..Own Goal for Robbie..Morrissey will be furious.
I’d say Joey Bartons sick!
What difference does it make?
It was a pleasure to meat you cousin.
How utterly ‘uninteresting’!
Striker in a coma.
They do look alike
Zzz
Night Gerard.
Hello Lisa?! ;)
Any news on the ol’ romance Lisa?
Same hairstyles.
Good auld CRUMLIN.
Charming man
And for years he thought he was Last of The International Playboys, imagine.
I thought Clinton Morrissy was black?
Ironing!
Might be a case of the “embarrassing relative” for the Keane family, given some of the ill-advised things Morressy has said in the past.
Or for the morrissey family . You just don’t know what people’s parents got up to in the 80′s . I know what mr keane was up to.
So what’s the scoop here !!!!!
Education education education that’s the clue Robbie
They haven’t a leaving cert between the lot of them.
Referring to premiership footballers there.
There’s a comedy sketch in this somewhere.
They done you a favour Robbie!
So morrisseys a talifornian,more like a talibanian
Always rely on Crumlin to deliver the talent….well the heritage anyway!