‘You couldn’t ignore that madness’: The comedians turning the GAA into a laughing matter

Long before D’Unbelievables and the roles on stage and screen that made them famous, Pat Shortt and Jon Kenny were a pair of jobbing musicians on the pub circuit in Limerick. One night their arms were twisted to perform at a medal presentation for a juvenile team in a village lounge, where, in the spirit of the GAA, they were treated as indentured volunteers.

Shortt played accordion, Kenny played guitar and for the guts of two hours they parlayed a short repertoire into a lively dance floor. It was nearly midnight when the master of ceremonies took the microphone from Kenny, just as they were running out of gas.