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LAST UPDATE | 16 Nov 2024
JON KENNY, THE much-loved comedian and actor who starred in D’Unbelievables, has died.
According to Limerick Live, Jon Kenny’s wife confirmed that he passed away at Galway Clinic yesterday evening.
Jon Kenny, who was originally from Hospital in Co Limerick, had previously suffered from non-Hodgkin lymphoma but made a recovery. Speaking earlier this year on RTÉ Radio One, he said his cancer had returned in recent years.
Jon Kenny had a long and varied career as an actor, comedian, singer and performer. He gained widespread national fame with Pat Shortt as part of the comedy duo D’Unbelievables.
The pair formed in the late 1980s, creating sketches based on common Irish characters spotted around the country. They toured extensively for years, and released numerous VHS videos of their performances, to great popularity.
In a statement released this evening, Shortt paid tribute to Jon Kenny, saying: “We are all devastated with the news of Jon Passing and our thoughts are with Margy, Aaron, and Leah. I was lucky to spend so many years touring with Jon and learning from him.
“Creating some great shows and videos. Hilarious hours in the rehearsal room and playing great tunes. But sitting in the kitchen with Margy and Caroline just having the craic in Lough Gur will never be forgotten. Thanks, Jon.”
We are all devastated with the news of Jon Passing and our thoughts are with Margy Aaron and Leah. I was lucky to spend so many years touring with Jon and learning from him. Creating some great shows and videos. Hilarious hours in the rehersal room and playing great tunes. But… pic.twitter.com/Eai3cs9q8c
— Pat Shortt (@Pat_Shortt) November 16, 2024
Continued career
D’Unbelievables stopped touring as a result of Jon Kenny’s health issues, but his career was far from over.
He went on to feature in numerous films and on television, and wrote and performed in a number of one-man comedy shows.
Jon Kenny appeared in episodes of Father Ted, and in such films as Mrs Brown’s Boys D’movie, Angela’s Ashes, and most recently the Banshees of Inisherin.
However, he was best known for his stage presence and comedic acting. He played a starring role on multiple occasions in John B Keane’s classic play The Matchmaker, most recently earlier this year.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio’s Oliver Callan at the time, Jon Kenny opened up about his battle with cancer and his health struggles, as well as his long career in entertainment.
“I don’t know how in the name of God I’m even here. I mean, since I’ve been bluffing all my life,” he said.
Tis true, like. Tis hard to believe I’ve been at this craic since I was about 16, and all I’ve ever done is kind of bluff my way through it, like, one form or another.
In relation to his health, he said at the time:
“My cancer came back — I had it there, it came back about three or four years ago.
“So I had some operation to remove some of my left lung and that was good, good luck to that — but didn’t the fecker come back again on my left lung again
“I’ve been lucky now because my chemo is working. But just in the middle of it all, just at the crack of it, you know when you’re getting on with things and all, I had heart failure. Just throw that in the mix! Nice little cocktail of things to be getting on with.”
Jon Kenny said it was important for him to keep performing:
“Maybe in my ignorance, I just chose to put the blinkers on and keep going… what else can you do?” He said.
He was also was lauded for his performance in 2014 as Bull McCabe in Keane’s other well known play, The Field. He also starred in the dark comedy Crowman, during which he played 10 characters.
Jon Kenny was also an accomplished singer, and had performed with Sharon Shannon. He had recently started writing poetry and had performed his poems in a number of venues.
Tributes have been paid to Jon Kenny, who was well-known and loved in his native Limerick. He led last year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Limerick City as Grand Marshal.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said in a statement that he learned of Jon Kenny’s death “with the utmost sadness”.
“Jon had the ability, that very few people possess, to make his audiences crack up laughing with a glance or a single word,” Harris said.
“Behind that seemingly effortless talent to joke, there was a gifted performer and an extremely deep thinker.
Jon was an interesting and thoughtful person, he had some stunning dramatic performances on stage and on screen and the country is still in stitches from the magic that was D’Unbelievables.
Jon Kenny is survived by his wife Margy and daughter and son Leah and Aaron.
With reporting from Eoghan Dalton and Emma Hickey
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Terrible news
RIP Jon
@nollaig o cellaigh: Indeed. This still cracks me up. Just brilliant! RIP :(
A lovely genuine man and made me laugh a lot back in the day. Rest in peace John. You truly were unbelievable.
Lovely man, made alot of people smile and always had time for people. He will be missed.
RIP. A great comedian
@common sense: he wasn’t a great comedian he was a D’unbelievable comedian.
He was legend who gave me lots of laughs. R.I.P Jon
“Put down that hand now, fairly lively”
“Ye can’t be doing that lads”
Legend. Rest in peace. Condolences to his family and friends.
Rest in peace
The sketch where he is at a wake in his sisters house,and he is leaning against the fireplace telling the story is still brilliant. RIP Jon
@Michael o connor: bridies christening is the name of the sketch on YouTube, well worth a watch for the day that’s in it.
@Michael o connor:
https://youtu.be/A1u3eRDUYbM?si=WPtOm9vQkDEwviHw
Very sad news today. Such a funny man. Even his small role in “The Van” was hilarious. RIP.
@Michael o connor: My favourite one also. Rest well John.
Shocking sad news , john Kenny was such a funny man, my thoughts are with his family and friends today R.I.p jonh and many thanks for all the belly laughs you gave me over the years.
Rest in peace Jon. A great comedian and actor. Thank you for the laughs and endless catchphrases .
Ah, that is sad news, I liked him. RIP Jon.
Great man. Excellent comedian. RIP
RIP to an absolute legend.
I still crack up at the unbelievables (good man PJ) and his Fred Rickwood was possibly the funniest character in Father Ted which is saying something.
Came across as a lovely man as well.
Awfully sad news he was a comic genius and D’unbelievibles were Irish comedy at its best. My late father was at something in Dublin 30years ago and Jon was part of the entertainment so Dad went to the bar and Jon was standing at it, Jon started talking in one of his many accents , to my Dad’s delight, Dad told him that he had a showband in the 50s and 60s , Jon asked if he knew Jimmy Barry Murphy who was at the event, Dad said he was at his table.
Jon asked if he could be introduced, so Dad brought him over and during his set called my Dad up to play/sing a song, Dad did and of course Jon roasted my Dad to great joy.
Jon wherever you are now keep those around laughing.
Very sad day
So sad condolences to his family
One bullet , bang bang. Rip Jon
@tony hilton: That was a Pat Short sketch. R.I.P. Jon
@alan chapman: apologies, just realised Jon played the barman and it was so funny watching him hold back the laughter.
@alan chapman: sorry , I should have said that but that’s what I meant. The holding in the laugher
Rest in peace funny man
A comedy genius. RIP
66 is nothing these days, RIP Jon
Legend
Great comedian and gentleman RIP Jon
RIP . Condolences to all his family. A true irish comedian who everybody could relate to. Also a great supporter of munster rugby . He’ll be sadly missed
So sad…RIP
The Sweetshop Sketch “How much for two of dem, and tree of dose” great comic, popped up in all the Irish comic classics. Sad day.
@Marcus Maher – Triskellion Films: How much for the teeth?
The sketch with him and Pat Shortt in the nursing home –
Nurse Maloney and the black doctor…. the best ever…
sleep well Jon.
@well done to all the rescue teams: Away in a Home. Even had a great title.
@Tom O’ Donnell: thanks Tom ..I couldn’t remember the name..priceless comedy…
R. I.P man happy trip god speed.
I hope they show some of the old shows on RTÉ so we can enjoy them again. The best live shows I was ever at. Afraid to move in your seat in case either Jon or Pat noticed you
RIP Jon, always remember him for playing Fred Rickwood in Fr Ted. ….Giddy up and shave a bullock !!!
The sketch with Joe Dolan was very funny
Dan tell me when to wo.Wo says Dan.
Very sad news. Condolences to all his family friends and relatives.
Saw him a few times live. Mad as a bag of frogs and all the better for it. RIP.
Ah no, Godspeed Jon, thanks for the laughs and memories, legendary status achieved.
Thank you for the entertainment Jon. May you Rest in peace.
That’s awful news. Goodnight sir.
Rip
A multi talented man who spent his time making us laugh. A gentle soul that we need more of
Great man great laugh
I worked with Jon many years ago and he was a genius. He could do it all, sing, dance, play numerous instruments, act and write both serious and comedy work.
Spending time around Join was when he was at his best, a natural comic an mimic and he had that beautiful way of turning things into hilarious that should not be. Nobody ever say how well he could dance, which is a shame. His wife, and his children were everything to him. Muti talented in a way that is rarely seen and yet a total sweetheart to work with.
Really sad, the d’unbelievables vhs’s/dvd’s were always a staple of the christmas back in the day. RIP Jon.
Rip Jon
A great human being. And so funny! Rip John.
Chicken box sketch in cop
Shop a howl.
So fortunate to have caught you John at the Seanti a few weeks ago and really enjoyed our chat in that classy little pub in Cardiff after Munster beat Biarritz in the European Cup. Rest in peace
God love him and his family
RIP John, thanks for laughs
Very sad news.
“In and outta doors and giddy up!”
R.I.P. Jon.
Rip john gave me great laughs and entertainment in the past .
A right funny man. RIP Jon and thanks for all the laughs over the years.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JCdjucZzreY#bottom-sheet
Sad news rip
So sad to hear this,he was in a band must be at least 40 years ago,it was called Gimmick,I live in the Glen of Aherlow,the band would play at weddings,and pubs,he was a great singer and he used to play often on a Saturday night in a pub in Galbally called Barry’s pub,they had a lounge,God help u if u hadn’t been in the pub before he came on stage,he would commentate on every 1 coming in,and it’s a village so u can just imagine the mocking and the craic,The Dunbelievables were watched all over the world,in so many Irish pubs in the US,on a Monday night that was the night for the Dunbelievables video,and a friend of mine living there said,the same people would be on the Monday night,and it was such craic it was like the customers were watching it for the 1st time week after week.
A comic genius and a lovely man. Sympathies to his family
Met Jon on Inish Bofin years ago. What a nice guy. He explained what he was going thru. Had watched him in the Olympia years previous with Pat. Dunbelievables. Was in stitches. Great guy. RIP Jon
Rest In Peace Jon Kenny
Rip
Legendary Comedian. RIP, I must have worn the tape out watching the D,unbelievables
A million thanks for all the fun. Rest in peace Jon.
‘sauce on the burger’ RIP
The pops are 5 pence.
@Eoghan: There was two of dem and he was one of dem..
RIP Jon.
Sad loss. A genuine Irish comedic legend. Provided many happy times.
So saddened to hear this news. A genuine comedy original – back in the day, I loved bringing unsuspecting cousins from abroad to D’unbelievable’s shows! Great memories. RIP Jon.
So sad what a lovely man was lucky to meet him a few times in Mayo RIP john
A genius comedian. Rest in peace and a heartfelt thank you for the laughs
Lovely guy
Rest in Peace Jon. Seen the unbelievables in the Tivoli 30 odd years ago and then again in the national stadium a few years later. Hands down 2 of the best comedy shows I have had the pleasure of ever being to
Sleep gently, sweet man.
Ah shite
So sad rip great comedian.
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