From early success to the 'Late Late', Jon Kenny leaves behind legacy as the 'young lad who stood out' 

Neighbours of the comedian always knew Kenny was destined to make it in showbusiness, writes Jimmy Woulfe

Jon Kenny made waves as a teenager in his band, Gimik, before going on to form D’Unbelievables with Pat Shortt.

• This article is part of our Best of 2024 collection. It was originally published in November. Find more stories like this here.

As the nation mourns the loss of Jon Kenny at just 66 years of age, we also fondly remember the actor and comedian for his hilarious double act with Pat Short as D’Unbelievables.

After his death on Friday, surrounded by his loved ones at University Hospital Galway, he was recalled in a quiet corner of Co Limerick as the young lad who mixed it on stage with the biggest bands of his generation while still in his teens.

The small town of Hospital — where he grew up and came back to settle after a hectic life on stage and screen — always knew Jon was destined to scale the heights as an entertainer.

Still only 17, Jon and a group of friends formed the rock group Gimik.

Such was their success, they soon came to the notice of big time showbusiness managers and were teamed with the Bay City Rollers for their Irish tour in 1976.

The following year, they were support act for Mud during a British tour.

Jon — who was born on December 12, 1957 — was brought up with his brother Tom, who passed away in London in 2020, and sisters Anne, Joan, and Deirdre. They lived over the family drapery business on Main St in Hospital. The family also ran a pub across the street.

Their father John died when they were very young, and their mother Mary brought up her children while running the drapery shop.

Lifelong friend Michael O’Sullivan ran a shop across the street where he brought up his family. He said: “Jon was always a young lad who kind of stood out and, even as a child, would pick up the words of songs. 

Their dad died when they were young, and their mother was a great woman

She brought up the children and ran a busy drapery shop. She held on to the business long after many other would have retired.”

Michael, who brings out local history magazine Memories of Hospital, said being brought up in a business on Main St would have tuned Jon’s development and helped him greatly throughout his career.

Kenny formed Gimik with a group of friends at the age of 17. Picture: Facebook/Hospital Town Community

“He would be well used to observing the public when helping out his mother in the shop. You can see that in the characters he brought to many of his performances. There was no better place for quirks and mannerisms of people than a shop in rural Ireland.”

School soon gave way to the call of music and entertainment.

With a group of other local teenage friends — who included four O’Sullivan brothers, Kevin Sheehy, and Richard Hannoway — Gimik hit the highways and byways.

Jon was lead vocal and played bass guitar when they eventually arrived at their gigs. Richard O’Sullivan was a lead vocal and played guitar. Paddy O’Sullivan was on drums, Eugene O’Sullivan was on keyboard, and Mike ‘Tus’ O’Sullivan played the bass guitar.

Before long, the Limerick teenagers were appearing before packed audiences in the Gaiety theatre, Dublin, where they were supporting the Bay City Rollers on their Irish tour

They also made their way on to major RTÉ music programmes such as Hullabaloo, hosted by Shay Healy and Marian Richardson.

The young lads from Hospital had truly arrived. However, when the lads went their own way, a new career beckoned for Jon to bring him acclaim at a totally new level.

Jon Kenny and Pat Shortt brought their comedy act to venues such as Vicar St, Dublin, and the Cork Opera House. Picture: Maxwells

D’Unbelievables had a gestation in a Limerick City centre pub when Flan Costello offered them a mid-week gig in his premises, taking a chance with these “two wild men” as he called them at the time.

Soon word went out among Limerick’s burgeoning student population that Costello’s Tavern was the place to go on a Wednesday night, where the craic and music was 90 with two fellas — one from Limerick and other from Thurles.

“Not a mix that worked well in many spheres,” said Flan Costello at the time as his upstairs became a packed out venue.

The Kenny and Shortt D’Unbelievables spiralled from there, as the music and song quickly evolved into a duo of wit which was to win over a massive audience

Numerous appearances on The Late Late Show franked their status as a national emblem of humour spanning the spectrum of Irish life.

Venues across the country were assured of a full house once the magic crowd puller D’Unbelievables was nailed into their calendar.

However, all that changed in 2000 when Jon had to step back after being diagnosed with cancer — which he successfully fought for a number of years.

As his journey continued at a less frenetic pace, Jon began to work his pathway into acting. He got parts in Fr Ted and films such as The Van, Angela’s Ashes, and The Banshees of Inisherin.

Jon Kenny and Mary McEvoy in the lead roles of John B Keane's 'The Matchmaker'.

He also had more time to spend with his wife Margy and their two children, Laya and Aran, at home in Holy Cross.

Local solicitor Bill O’Donnell said: “There is intense sadness. This is a great tragedy, and I am very sad for his family. I am particularly saddened because mine and Jon’s family have a long history together. This will be a great time of sadness for the entire community.

“Not only was Jon a public man, he was also a very good friend and neighbour. While we have known about his bad health in the past, this has come as a total shock to all of us.”

His family said that he had suffered a heart attack in hospital from which he did not regain consciousness. In a touching statement, they added: “Jon grabbed life and shook it as hard as he could, getting every ounce of fun, madness, and love from it.

“His wit, humour, generosity, and kindness will outlast his passing. 

The memories and stories of those who knew him will be his legend

President Michael D Higgins led the tributes, stating: “With his impeccable, natural talent for humour and an ability to raise a laugh with just the slightest action, Jon brought so much joy and laughter in his work with Pat Shortt as one half of the D’Unbelievables. Immensely popular amongst all his colleagues, for Pat Shortt it will be an incredible loss of his partner in showbusiness.”

Pat Shortt himself remembered his friend.

“I was lucky to spend so many years touring with Jon and learning from him, creating some great shows and videos,” he said.

“[We had some] 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.”

Jon Kenny’s funeral details have been confirmed. He will be reposing at St Patrick’s Church in Lough Gur, Bruff, on Monday from 4pm to 7pm. His funeral mass will take place on Tuesday at noon with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.