IRISH comedian Jimmy Cricket said he was ‘overwhelmed’ to find out that he was being awarded a Papal Knighthood by Pope Francis.
The veteran entertainer from Co. Tyrone was awarded the Roman Catholic Church’s highest honour for his services to charity over the years.
Born James Mulgrew, the 69-year-old comic – who is now based in Rochdale - continues to entertain crowds.
He told The Irish Post that he found out about the honour when his local priest visited him at home.
“I found out about my Papal Knighthood when my priest Fr Joe came round to my house and told me to sit down,” he said.
“He then produced this very large certificate which was written in Latin. He roughly translated it and it turned out it was for good work.
Overjoyed my local priest Fr Joe visited me earlier and handed me this, a papal knighthood for services to charity. pic.twitter.com/lIjguCJDck
— Jimmy Cricket (@jimmy__cricket) September 18, 2015
“I was to say the least, overwhelmed. After all I’ve been already blessed to do a job I love. I travel up and down the country entertaining people, and whether it be a paid gig or a charity show for expenses, I enjoy every minute.
"I feel so honored that I’ve been given it and it will have pride of place up on my wall.”
Jimmy became a household name in the 1970s for his TV series And There’s More and BBC Radio 2 show Jimmy’s Cricket Team.
