Galway gets set for laughter as comedy festival kicks off

Date Published: {J}

Several acts at this year’s Galway Comedy Festival, which opened this Wednesday, were sold out well in advance, including Dylan Moran, Tim Minchin, Rich Hall, David O’Doherty and Faulty Towers.

But there are still tickets remaining for the many world class comedians arriving in Galway this week, with shows at all hours of the day and night.

There’s lunchtime comedy in the Kings Head with Gerry Mallon’s Laughter Loft this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There are afternoon shows from The Edinburgh Fringe Festival including shows from Foil, Arms and Hog, Trevor Browne, Colm O’Regan, Biddy O’Loughlin, Keith Farnan, Betrayal of Penguins and Conor O’Toole.

Fresh from their leap to fame on the Jonathan Ross Show, 4 Poofs and a Piano will be on stage on Sunday night at The Town Hall Theatre, while Ian D Montfort – who bills himself as a comic, psychic and medium – is at Monroe’s Live on Saturday and Sunday at 8.30pm.

Ardal O’Hanlon is on this Friday at Monroe’s with Mike Wilmot and Paddy Courtney, and in the Róisín this Saturday, alongside Barry Murphy of Après Match and Hector.

Another member of Irish comedy royalty, Colin Murphy is back for two shows. He’s in Kelly’s on Saturday at 8pm and in the Róisín on Sunday at 7.30pm (with Tiffany Stevenson and Jarred Christmas).

You can stand up or sit down for Joker Poker at The Radisson from Friday to Sunday when people’s favourite comedians engage in a battle of wits to out-bluff each other for the big prize. That’s at 11.30pm nightly. Stand-up Showdown has traditionally been a major festival highlight as comedians face each other in a battle of elimination until there is only one victor standing. It will be survival of the funniest at the Róisín on Monday at 4pm.

Meanwhile, Andrew Maxwell’s Fullmooners is on Sunday night at The Radisson Live Lounge with Rubberbandits and perennial favourite, Rich Hall.

Other shows include Fred Cooke this Friday at 6pm and Pope Benedict: Bond Villain by Abie Philbin Bowman. He will be in the Róisín on Saturday and Sunday at 7pm while Galway’s Who Needs Enemies 2 is at The Town Hall on Friday.

Comedy fans can meet their heroes and enjoy some festive Après Glee at the Festival Club at the Róisín with Duke Special, Brassroots, Silent Disco and more.

Tickets at the city’s Town Hall Theatre, 091-569777, tht.ie, and from Zhivago, Shop Street on 091-509960. There will also be limited number of tickets at various venues. More information at www.bulmersgalwaycomedyfestival.com