IF COMEDY was a religion, Róisín Dubh would be Mecca, the Vatican, or Jerusalem. OK, maybe it is more like Knock, but one thing for sure, it is arguably the home of comedy in the west of Ireland.
Over the last few years the Róisín Dubh has hosted Jack Whitehall, Sarah Millican, Kevin Bridges, Gina Yashere, Stewart Lee, Kerry Godliman, Reginald D Hunter, Phill Jupitus, Zoe Lyons, Rich Hall, Doug Stanhope, and Jim Jefferies, and it also brings some of the biggest names in comedy to other Galway venues including shows from Bill Burr, John Bishop, Michael McIntyre, Lee Evans, and Alan Carr at the Black Box. The Vodafone Comedy Carnival Galway is curated by the Róisín Dubh with the festival line-up having featured Tommy Tiernan, Tim Minchin, Dylan Moran, Nina Conti, Sean Lock, Russell Howard, Aisling Bea, and Lee Mack.
The base for all this is the Róisín's flagship Tuesday night shows - the Comedy KARLnival, hosted by the great Karl Spain. The KARLnival returns next week [Tuesday January 15] after a month long Christmas break with Northern Irish comedy sensation Shane Todd. The County Down funnyman has been called “a modern-day king of comedy” by the Belfast Telegraph and is best known for his YouTube character - North Down 'celebrity' Mike McGoldrick - as well as for his stand-up shows.
Also playing on January 15 are Ger Staunton, and Danay Kidane, who was a finalist in China’s International Comedy Competition. Doors are at 8pm. Tickets are €6 in advance from Róisín Dubh; www.roisindubh.net; or OMG@Zhivago, Shop Street; or €8 at the door.
But wait! There’s more!
The Comedy KARLnival has just announced the line up for the first two months of 2019 and this is what Galway can expect. Ivan Brackenbury, the hospital radio broadcaster who has a knack of picking the most inappropriate songs for patients, and a regular guest on 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, headlines on January 22. The Guardian called him "top-quality entertainment with practically universal appeal". Also playing are Johnny Graham and NUIG Comedy Soc's Brossie.
On January 29 the Comedy KARLnival hosts Tony Law (Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats ), Robbie Bonham, and Margaret McHugh; On February 5, one of Ireland's finest young comedians, Steve Bennett (Irish Comedian of the Year 2017 ), headlinnes, with support from Tom O'Mahony (Damo & Ivor ) and Katelyn Galvin.
On February 12 the line-up is Edwin Sammon (Bridget & Eamon ), Keith Fox, and NUIG Comedy Soc's Sarah O'Gorman. On February 19 expect a rapid fire of one liners from the brilliant Sean Hegarty (Ireland's Got Talent ), along with sets from Derry Girls' Diona Doherty, and Amy Walsh.
American comedian Scott Capurro, who the San Francisco Weekly called “stand-up in the very best possible sense – deadpan, ever-alert and hilarious”, plays on February 26. Support is from The Irish Times' Jim Elliott, and Dan Hendricks.
And that's not the end of it!
Other Róisín Dubh Comedy shows include Grammy winner Patton Oswalt (June 7, Leisureland ); Jason Byrne (March 9 ); Mock The Week’s James Acaster (November 6 ); Canadian legend Tom Stade (May 5 ); 2FM’s Bernard O'Shea (April 13 ); rising stars of Irish comedy Danny O’Brien (February 10 ) and Bernard Casey (February 8 ); internet sensation The 2 Johnnies (March 15, Black Box Theatre ); and two of the stars of Fr Ted - Joe Rooney (Fr Damo ) and Pat McDonnell (Eoin McLove ) on January 25.
For more information and tickets see www.roisindubh.net
