President Higgins is leading the many tributes to Jon Kenny who died on Friday in Galway University Hospital after a lengthy illness. Mr Kenny, was 66 and achieved success and fame as an entertainer, actor and more recently as a poet.
Originally from Hospital in county Limerick he performed as a singer with the band Gimik and later joined with Thurles man Pat Shortt to form the D’Unbelievables.
Their comedy show toured extensively and released several highly successful videos. Mr Kenny was the Grand Marshall for the 2023 St Patrick’s Day Parade in Limerick.
President Higgins says “Jon brought so much joy and laughter in his work with Pat Shortt – adding that with his solo work and beyond Jon Kenny has left what is a substantial body of work which will be recalled with the greatest warmth by the Irish public.”
President Higgins also praised Jon Kenny for being “generous in speaking about his health issues while providing an inspiration to those suffering from their own illnesses.”
Mr Kenny was considered a fine singer and a serious actor – his performances in The Matchmaker and The Field amongst other stage shows won many fans.
He also had many films to his credit – The Banshees of Inisherin, The Van, Angela’s Ashes, Song of the Sea, Les Miserables, Wolfwalkers and episodes of Fr Ted.
Mr Kenny is survived by his wife Margy, children Leah and Aaron and the extended family.
Jon will be reposing at St. Patrick’s Church, Lough Gur, Bruff (V35E281) today(November 18th) from 4pm to 7pm.
Jon’s funeral mass will take place tomorrow at 12 noon and can be viewed online at this link here with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
