FOLLOWING THE long-awaited end to the ban on public laughter, the team at Róisín Dubh Comedy has hit the ground running, and are bringing a festival-worthy string of comedy stars to Galway in 2022.
Indeed one of those comedy stars is no less than the mighty Kevin Bridges, now added to a line-up that will see Patrick Kielty, Tommy Tiernan, Netflix star Daniel Sloss, and Alan Carr, heading our way.
Kevin Healy of the Róisín Dubh and the Galway Comedy Festival spoke of his excitement to be back to proper funny business after such a long wait. “it’s really great for us to finally welcome our audiences back into our venues, to enjoy live gigs - and also to welcome back old friends from the comedy world, after a long tough couple of years”.
Kevin Bridges in Galway
Kevin is delighted to reveal that “Scottish superstar Kevin Bridges has just confirmed four nights in April at Galway’s Black Box Theatre in preparation for his ‘Long Overdue Catch Up’ arena tour. These are Kevin’s only Irish warm-up shows and are sure to sell out really quickly”.
Kevin has also arranged an Irish tour for the brilliant Nina Conti to bring her new show, Nina Conti: The Dating Show, to Waterford, Cork, Drogheda, Limerick, Dublin, and Belfast, from June 8 to 13. There is no promise that true love will be found, but there is a firm guarantee that big laughs with the quick-thinking queen of ventriloquism will be had. Full details and tickets are via www.roisindubh.net
Laughter coming our way
Galway is the destination for Alan Carr, who brings his new show, Regional Trinket, to Leisureland on May 27 and 28, with support from Louise Young. Another big name from the small screen, Jason Manford, finally brings his rescheduled Like Me! show to the Town Hall Theatre on June 16.
Acts from the top tier of Irish comedy will also be coming to Galway. Jason Byrne will bring his new show to the Black Box Theatre on Saturday March 12, and County Down’s Patrick Kielty will head to the same venue on Thursday May 5 with his first new show in five years.
It is not only stand-up comedy that the Róisín Dubh team has planned. Bingo Loco, complete with dance offs, lip sync battles, throwback anthems, confetti showers, and prizes, takes place in Leisureland on Thursday March 17 and Friday 18. Tickets are available via www.bingo-loco.com
A favourite during last year's Galway Comedy Festival, the Faulty Towers Dining Experience, the improvised dinner theatre show and tribute to the iconic sitcom, Fawlty Towers, returns to the Galmont Hotel for four nights, and a Sunday lunch, on April 5, 8, 9, and 10.
Galway Comedy Festival 2022
Galway’s adopted son Tommy Tiernan played three sold-out shows in Leisureland last weekend, but do not worry if you missed out, Róisín Dubh Comedy has made sure you can still catch his tomfoolery in Leisureland on October 26 and 27, as part of the 2022 Galway Comedy Festival.
Joining Tommy at the festival is Irish-Australian Jimeoin who plays The Black Box Theatre on Saturday October 29. Netflix star, and master of the dark laughs, Daniel Sloss, will be joined by some of his good friends at Leisureland on the Sunday of the #GCF22 Bank Holiday weekend.
Premium punster, Gary Delaney, brings his show Gary in Punderland to the Róisín Dubh on Thursday October 27. Also coming to the festival is Northern Irish sensation Paddy Raff, with his new show, Look Who’s Raffing, to the Loft at Seven Bar on Wednesday October 26.
Comedy at Róisín Dubh
The Róisín Dubh, will be the venue for many laughs, chuckles, and chortles over the coming months. As part of the new monthly(ish ) and clunkily monikered Sunday Night Comedy KARLnival, host Karl Spain will be joined by Northern Irish powerhouse Colin Geddis on March 13, with support from Dave Elliott.
Speaking of the new comedy club, resident MC Karl Spain said “it’s such a delight to be back and we’ve started with a bang. It’s brilliant seeing all the comedians again. They love coming to Galway almost as much as me.”
As well as the KARLnival, a string of homegrown talent will be bringing their shows to the Dominick Street venue, including Joe Rooney and Pat McDonnell’s Stars of Father Ted this Sunday, March 6, as part of the Tedfest programme; Galway native Sean Begley will bring his acclaimed show, Tragic, on Sunday March 27, with support from Ballinasloe’s Breda Larkin; and Corkonian funnyman Ross Browne will be Banjaxed! in the Róisín on April 10.
Róisín Dubh stalwarts The Dirty Circus will be gracing the stage with burlesque, cabaret, and comedy on Saturday March 19 and Saturday April 16, while Steve Hughes will return on Easter Sunday, April 17, following his critically acclaimed performance here last October.
All in all, plenty of reasons to be cheerful, and plenty of opportunities to give yourself a good load of laughs throughout the coming weeks and months.
Tickets for all shows are available from www.roisindubh.net
