John's funeral took place this morning at St. Patrick's Church, Ringsend. Details HERE. A passionate and true sportsman he pioneered the sport of speed sailing in Ireland.
John is survived by his mother and father Rose and Sean, sister Charlene, Caroline and brother Tony, his partner Linda Balfe and children Conor, Orlagh and Brona.
John was named Irish Independent/Afloat.ie "Sailor of the Month" last January after pushing the bounds of waterborne wind-powered speed in Ireland in winter's big breezes.
Previously Afloat's Sailor of the Month in October 2008 when he set a new Irish record in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.
He achieved a personal best of a burst of 45.3 knots (it's 84 kph) and averaged 42.52 for the 500 metres to take the Irish Speed sailing record.
On his blog windsurfer Alistair Nichol today said:
"I am still shocked that my good friend John Kenny passed away last week. The next time I turn up to go speed sailing and he will not be there giving me a kick up the arse cause i'm not sailing fast enough and not see him charging down the speed course usually setting the fastest runs of the day is going to be wierd. Whenever i sailed with him he was always pushing me to do better. He lived his life to the full, giving 100% in anything he did and the world will be a much smaller place without him in it and he will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know him. RIP...mate hope your getting 50 knot runs in up there"
John 'JK' Kenny competing at speed in the UK. Photo: Paul O'Riain
