Introduction
Kevin McAleer (born 1956) is an Irish professional stand-up comedian. He came to prominence on the RTÉ television show Nighthawks which began broadcasting in the late 1980s. McAleer became known for his three-minute sketches of surreal rustic tales told in his slow County Tyrone drawl. One critic said that McAleer "put the dead back into deadpan". His is currently touring his latest one man comedy show entitled 'Kevin McAleer-Guru' and played the part of boring Uncle Colm in Derry Girls on Channel 4.
Personal life and writing
McAleer lives in the countryside of County Tyrone, five miles from Omagh, alongside his wife Valerie Whitworth, and their three children, daughter Florence Whitworth and twins Louis and Josiah Whitworth. He believes his comic talents blossomed in the classroom and he lived in Barcelona, Spain for a period.
In July 2009, McAleer stated that he has completed a first draft of a book about John F. Kennedy. The book remains unfinished. He writes in his office which is located in Omagh and cites Flann O'Brien, James Joyce, Don DeLillo, Umberto Eco and Nikolai Gogol as influences.
McAleer writes occasional comic pieces for the Irish Times, responding to current events such as Brexit. His wife, Valerie Whitworth is a self-employed artist and a vocal instructor for community choirs in Omagh and Enniskillen.