Shane was born in England, Kent. He was taken back to the old home place near Puckaun, Tipp when he was six months old. The family moved back to England when he was six years old, that's how he got the London accent. Both his parents are Irish.

James Connolly didn't see Ireland until he was 14, and spent less than half his life there. I love Connolly, but the best description I have seen of his is that by Kathleen Behan, the mother of all the Behans, "a wee fat man with a big moustache"!