'Remarkable' Jon Kenny lived a life 'overflowing with heart and humour', mourners hear

Jon Kenny's coffin is escorted to the adjoining cemetery by his wife Margy and son Aran along with other family members after the funeral mass today. Picture: Dan Linehan

As The Sailor's Bonnet echoed in a church in Lough Gur, mourners paid a last farewell to Jon Kenny, who lived a life “overflowing with heart and humour”.

Friends, family, fans and neighbours stamped their feet and cheered as Kenny’s wicker coffin was taken down the aisle of a packed St Patrick’s Church in Patrickswell.

Sisters Mary, Mel, Kate, Bernie and Mona at the funeral mass for their brother-in-law Jon Kenny today. Picture: Dan Linehan

The beloved comedian died last Friday at the age of 66 in University Hospital Galway, surrounded by his wife, Margy and children, Aran and Leah.

He was best known as one half of the d’Unbelievables duo with Pat Shortt, and for his roles in Father Ted, Angela’s Ashes, and more recently, The Banshees of Inisherin.

Mr Kenny’s life was remembered by several symbols, including a guitar, Limerick and Munster Rugby flags, a book of poems, as well as a wig as a nod to his love for comedy

Sharon Shannon, Nollaig Casey and the Mary Wallopers at the funeral mass for Jon Kenny. Picture: Dan Linehan

Broadcaster John Creedon led the tribute to his dear friend, who “sprinkled that laughing dust wherever he went”.

“To say he was a remarkable man, I think, would be a massive understatement,” he began.

Using the Irish word laoch mór, meaning warrior, he said: “He came into life charging and he battled through 20 years of illness, good days as well as bad days, but he battled on gamely. He was always Jon, he was never anything other than Jon and the show always went on.” 

The late Jon Kenny's wife Margy with Pat Shortt at the funeral mass for for her late husband at St. Patrick's Church, Lough Gur, Bruff, Co Limerick. Picture: Dan Linehan

Mr Creedon described Kenny as “pure Celt”, as he was always guided “by the heart”. He also recalled the first time they met saying his friend had always “room for just one more”. He remembered his friend’s ‘Rastafarian’ phase before being interrupted by Mr Kenny’s dogs, who too wanted to pay their respect.

Once upon a time, Mr Kenny had called Mr Creedon to ask to be allowed on an overbooked flight of Cork City fans going to the Czech Republic to see them play in the Uefa Cup qualifiers. Mr Kenny arrived at the last minute, without a bag, without clothes — only with a horse riding helmet in the boot.

The broadcaster noted that it’s often said that the clown is the most sensitive person in the circus — and his pal had “sensitivity in spades”.

Stephen Howard Aide-de-Camp to the President and Captain SC O'Connell, Aide-de-Camp to the Taoiseach at the funeral mass today. Picture: Dan Linehan

“Jon Kenny had compassion for all of us. It was that genuine depth of love and compassion for people that informed those remarkable performances and that remarkable life,” he continued.

He then shared a text sent by Mr Kenny, who was working on a collection of writings, part of which read: “I want to make a world that the audience can enter into with me. It's not stand-up, and it's not a play. I don't know myself what it is, but I will, when I find it.” 

Margy with her children Laya and Aran and his girlfriend Lisa at the funeral mass today. Picture: Dan Linehan

Mr Creedon continued: “He was always reaching for that unmanifested magic”. 

"So often, he found it and he brought it back and he showed us and enlightened all our lives with it. But I really want to thank Margy and Leah and Aran. Thank you so much guys for sharing Jon with us.” 

After the eulogy, Leah Kenny read one of her father’s poems, which stopped with the lines: “Between two worlds, your pagan golden son. Then sign the deal, your name is Jon”.

Margy Kenny then thanked the crowd for the “outpouring of love” the family received following her husband’s passing.

“It’s just overwhelmed us the outpouring of love for Jon that we felt everywhere. And actually today, I just feel it here so strong. I know tomorrow we’ll collapse, but today, we feel joy and love and you've made all that possible,” she began.

When she fell in love with Mr Kenny in 1983, the thing she loved most about him was the love he had for others.

The coffin of the late Jon Kenny is escorted by his wife Mary, daughter Maya and son Aran and family and family members from St. Patrick's Church to the adjoining cemetery, Lough Gur, Bruff, Co Limerick. Picture Dan Linehan

“He'd often come home late at night after doing a show, playing music, and he'd keep me up half the night, tell me about some gorgeous people he'd just met, the fantastic conversations he had. I was amazed at the fantastic time he had for everybody,” she continued.

After thanking the hospital staff who took care of Mr Kenny, she said: “He loved you all, and thanks for showing your love to him. Of course, he gave Aran, Leah and myself buckets of love down through the years and for that, we feel really privileged to have shared that love.”