Kirwan has openly spoken of his battle with depression, and is actively involved in mental health and depression awareness campaigns in New Zealand. He has written about his depression in the books All Blacks Don't Cry and Stand by Me. He has established the Sir John Kirwan Foundation to help young people understand mental health. In 2020 he launched a mental wellbeing app called Mentemia. Personal life Kirwan is married to Fiorella, Lady Kirwan, and they have three children: Francesca, a beach volleyball player; Niko, who has played football for the All Whites, New Zealand's national team, and Luca, who has represented New Zealand internationally in rowing at under-23 level. Kirwan speaks fluent Italian and good Japanese, having lived in Italy and Japan. In 2016, Kirwan's DNA heritage was investigated for a television programme, in which links to the American Kennedy family and Scottish mountaineer Alexander Kellas were shown. Honours and awards In the 1989 New Year Honours, Kirwan was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to rugby. In the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours, Kirwan was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to mental health. In the 2012 Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours, he was promoted to Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to mental health and rugby. Also in 2012, Kirwan was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame. References Bibliography The outdoors cookbook: John Kirwan & Annabel Langbein’s favourite barbecue and grill recipes (1989) Kirwan: running on instinct (1992) Why I am: a bag full of wisdom to take on the road (c1999) All Blacks Don’t Cry: A Story of Hope (2010) 1964 births Living people Auckland rugby union players Benetton Rugby players Expatriate rugby union players in Italy Expatriate rugby union players in Japan Italy national rugby team coaches Japan national rugby team coaches Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit Green Rockets Tokatsu players New Zealand expatriate rugby union players New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in Italy New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in Japan New Zealand international rugby union players New Zealand Members of the Order of the British Empire New Zealand people of Irish descent New Zealand rugby league players New Zealand rugby union coaches New Zealand rugby union players New Zealand Warriors players People educated at De La Salle College, Māngere East Rugby league