GALWAY COMEDY Festival kicks off next Tuesday, and with shows right through to Monday October 25, excitement is mounting in the City of the Tribes. With 45 shows across seven days and fun-filled nights, Galway really is the place to be this October Bank Holiday weekend.
The festival’s Opening Gala on Tuesday October 19 in the Black Box Theatre is already sold out, but comedy fans can still celebrate the start of #GCF21 and see Ardal O’Hanlon, Rich Hall, Emma Doran, Aideen McQueen, and host Andrew Maxwell from the comfort of their own home.
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During the lockdowns, Team GCF gained lots of technical know-how during its many internationally-streamed events and have put that knowledge to good use by livestreaming the opening gala. Best of all - the livestream ticket proceeds are going to Irish mental health charity Let’s Get Talking, which provides access to professional counselling and psychotherapy to those in need - regardless of financial circumstances.
Let’s Get Talking supports adults and children (+10 ) with depression, anxiety, stress, relationship issues, addiction, trauma, bullying, eating disorders, parenting issues, and family breakdowns. It has a team of more than 100 professional, caring, counsellors, and psychotherapists qualified in a range of therapeutic approaches.
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In 2020, Let’s Get Talking provided 14,504 counselling and psychotherapy sessions. For more information, or to book an appointment, see www.letsgettalking.ie or call 0818 714 001.
A packed line-up
Nina Conti [pictured], Ed Byrne, Deirdre O'Kane, Reginald D Hunter, Shaparak Khorsandi, Ardal O'Hanlon, Steve Hughes, Andrew Maxwell, Kevin McAleer, Bobby Davro, Terry Alderton, Owen Colgan, Barry Murphy, Waterford Whispers News, Karl Spain, Glenn Wool, Enya Martin, DJ Ivan Brackenbury, Danny O’Brien, and Lindsay Hamilton (IT GALZ ) are among the more than 80 artists coming west to bring the chuckles, chortles, and cheers across eight city venues... and a bus.
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The festival also includes the return of Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience [pictured below], the improvised silliness of the Stephen Frost Impro All Stars, mixed up local history with Open Top City Bus Tours, and some cheeky afternoon mixed bill stand up shows. There will also be late night madness with The Dirty Circus Late & Loose in The Loft @ Seven and the festival institution that is Late Night KARLnival in Róisín Dubh hosted by Karl Spain.
It is often said that comedy is all about timing. If that is true, then Galway Comedy Festival has really nailed it this year. With all restrictions due to be lifted midway through their week-long festival of fun (on Friday October 22 ) it looks like #GCF21 could be the party of the century, kicking off the ‘Roaring Twenties’ with a feast of laughter.
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Galway Comedy Festival is shaping up to be the first proper release of laughter after these dark days, so let’s welcome back live comedy with a bang.
Booking and tickets
Tickets for the livestream gala and for all other events at the festival tickets are on sale from www.GalwayComedyFestival.ie and the ticket desk at OMG on Shop Street (091 - 509960 ). See social media @galwaycomedy
In line with current Government guidelines, ticket holders at events before October 22 must be fully vaccinated and have a valid Covid cert at the time of the event. From October 22 on, you may not need a Covid cert to attend events. This is subject to the current Government roadmap proceeding as planned.
