THE Irish community in Manchester and across Britain is in mourning this week following the death of local hero and popular DJ John Brennan.
Mr Brennan died on Monday morning, March 15, it was confirmed by Kevin Fitzpatrick, manager at St. Kentigern’s Irish Club in Fallowfield, greater Manchester.
His death was not Covid-19 related it has also been confirmed.
The 71-year-old, who hailed from Tubbercurry in Co. Sligo, was a popular and long-term member of the city’s vibrant Irish community.
Having worked at the Ardri Irish Club in Hulme when he first arrived in Manchester, he went on to own a successful plant hire business.
When he retired from that business, he took up DJing.
His mobile service, JIB Disco, was regularly booked by Irish pubs and clubs across Manchester, as well as for weddings, christenings and other family events.
That work led led to him getting involved with fundraising for local causes, in particular the cancer hospital The Christie.
“Manchester woke up this morning to be saddened by the sudden death of John Brennan, of JIB Disco,” Mr Fitzpatrick said on Monday, March 15.
“While John was in the music business, he started doing charity work, raising money for a local cancer treatment hospital in Manchester called The Christie,” he added.
“Up to March 2020, before the Covid-19 outbreak, he has raised £21,000 for the hospital.”
As well as playing in some of Manchester’s largest Irish clubs, including St Kentigern’s, St Ann’s and the Chorlton Irish Centre, Mr Brennan would also head across to Yorkshire to offer his services.
“John would load up his van and trek across the Pennines to go to Leeds Irish Centre,” Mr Fitzpatrick confirms, “he was also well respected in Yorkshire.”
Tributes to Mr Brennan have poured in from across Britain and Ireland on the St Kentigern’s Facebook page this week, as news of his death has spread.
“John will be sadly missed by the Irish community in Manchester,” Mr Fitzpatrick added.
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