Irish comedy legend Jon Kenny has sadly passed away at 66 after a long battle with cancer.
The comedian from Limerick, famously known as one half of the comedic duo D’Unbelievables with Pat Shortt, died peacefully at Galway Clinic last night, his widow Margy confirmed.
Kenny, who had successfully fought non-Hodgkins lymphoma in his 40s, faced cancer once again when it returned in 2020, for which he was receiving treatment, reports the Mirror.
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Jon had shared his experience with his health struggles before he passed, candidly remarking: “I’ve been very lucky. I’m sure some people would say I’ve had bad luck, but I think when you come out the other end of anything, I think I’ve had a lot of good luck as well, everything has worked for me.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Reflecting on his heart surgery and subsequent cancer battles, he said: “I had a double bypass which kind of brilliantly mended me, fixed me up and got me back on the road and then, my cancer came back again about three years ago. I was diagnosed with lung cancer and they removed the lower part of my left lung.
“That kept me going again for another while, but it came back again now last year, so, I’m just on treatment for that at the moment.”
He had remained optimistic about his treatments, expressing: “But it’s good the treatment is working. It’s all going well, I’m very lucky. Some shows I’m doing is just to see how my body is going to hold up doing some travel, some work and some live performances.”
Jon was set to take the stage at The Schoolyard Theatre in Charleville tonight, but earlier this week the venue revealed that the event had been called off. Limerick Live confirmed the news of Jon’s death this morning.
Tributes have been flooding in for the legendary comic, with Bruff solicitor and ex-Fine Gael councillor Bill O’Donnell stating: “This is a great tragedy. I am very sad for his family. I am particularly saddened because mine and Jon’s family have a long history together.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
