THERE IS just one week to go before the return of Ireland’s biggest comedy extravaganza, as Galway Comedy Festival gets set to host 78 shows across city and county.
Expect the best Irish and international comedy, including Russell Howard, Deirdre O’Kane, Dara Ó Briain, Dylan Moran, Michelle Wolf, Des Bishop and many more.
The festival takes place from this Tuesday, October 22, to Monday, October 28. As the days grow colder and darker, and winter begins to bite, festival organisers promise to bring the light of laughter and the bright sparks of mirth, mischief, and mayhem to warm the spirits and keep the humours high.
Over the October Hallowe’en Bank Holiday weekend, the annual spectacle of the Macnas parade coincides with #GCF24, making it an ideal time to come to Galway for the funniest staycation of the year, as festival goers can choose from a whopping 78 shows, across 19 venues, over seven days in Ireland’s favourite festival city.
Despite some shows already being sold-out, comedy fans are still spoiled for choice. With that in mind, here are our top suggestions of shows to see at #GCF24:
Russell Howard is playing his first shows in Galway in over a decade, so when one of the biggest names in the business makes a rare appearance in town, you know it is an unmissable opportunity. Russell has a rare ability to tackle the serious, headline issues of a world in crisis, yet leave audiences hopeful and optimistic. Don’t miss this master during his two nights at Leisureland.
Also playing Leisureland is Deirdre O’Kane, with her acclaimed new show, O’Kaning It. Tickets are flying out the door, but if you are quick, you’ll get yours, and be treated to a masterclass from the undisputed First Lady of Irish Comedy, along with her very special guest and podcast partner, Emma Doran.
An absolute smorgasbord of comedic delights will be served at #GCF24, whether through yoga, improv, interviews, art events, and a screening of the hit Irish film, The Hurler.
There will be several mixed bill shows, such as the Black Box Galas featuring Dylan Moran, Emma Doran, Rich Hall, Miles Jupp, Phill Jupitus, Sinéad Quinlan, Jason Byrne, Mario Rosenstock and Jon Kenny. Club shows at Róisín Dubh and Seven are featuring Terry Alderton, Colin Geddis, Colin Murphy, Aideen McQueen and Fin Taylor, among others.
GCF also celebrates the Irish language in our Gáire as Gaeilge shows, hosted by Hector Ó hEochagáin in Galway City and An Spideal. Further shows in the county include Rich Hall (Tuam ), Dylan Moran (Headford ), and stars from Father Ted, Joe Rooney, Patrick McDonnell, and Kevin Gildea (Oranmore ). Local characters will provide mighty entertainment at CroíAct (pronounced “craic’d” ), a night of craic to raise funds for Croí and ACT for Meningitis, hosted by Danny O’Brien.
There are fantastic solo shows to enjoy with David McSavage, Enya Martin, Fin Taylor, John Colleary, and award-winning one-liner comedian, Mark Simmons, not to mention a very personal show from Miles Jupp (Have I Got New For You, Never Mind the Buzzcocks ), finding the funny in his recovery from a brain tumour.
‘Carefully curated craic’ is the GCF mantra and mission statement, and is embodied in the event’s returning shows: Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience brings the hilarious mayhem of the classic sitcom to diners at the Galway Bay Hotel; The Dirty Circus, Galway’s legendary burlesque and cabaret night, is the embodiment of decadence and glamour; while Stephen Frost’s Improv All Stars are the masters of quick-thinking comedy.
The full embodiment of ‘carefully curated craic’ comes with festival favourite, the Late Night KARLnival at Róisín Dubh, hosted by the great Karl Spain. Featuring surprise guests, this is Festival Director Kevin Healy’s choice line-up for comedy connoisseurs; the must-see shows of the festival. It is where anything can happen, such as a standing ovation for John Bishop at 1am last year, as this is where comedians can - and are expected to be - as edgy and risqué as they like.
As a comedy Festival with a difference, GCF boasts an Artist In Residence, with this year’s role in the hands of Dylan Moran. As well as solo and mixed bill shows, Moran will have an exhibition of his artwork at Outset Gallery. He will host both a life drawing event and the intriguingly entitled Artrobics, and host wide-ranging conversations with fellow Navan-man, Hector Ó hEochagáin about schooldays and obair bhaile, and with DJ Shampain about life as an artist and music producer living in Galway.
Galway Comedy Festival is one of the biggest events in the city’s festival calendar and an essential part of the city’s economy, with a major off-season boost to the hospitality sector. Galway hotels are reporting high occupancy and bookings for the October Bank Holiday Weekend, but there are still rooms available for comedy fans making plans to come West.
“It is the nation’s largest comedy festival and the biggest party before the bleak winter sets in. Where else would you want to be? Why on earth would you want to miss it? Why are you still reading this?” asks Kevin Healy. “Book your tickets now!” www.galwaycomedyfestival.ie
