Galway Comedy Festival is Ireland’s largest comedy extravaganza with 78 shows, across 19 venues, over seven days in Ireland’s festival city. There is a lot to choose from - a lot you want to go and see.
Yes, Deirdre O’Kane, Des Bishop, Dara Ó Briain, Jimeoin, and Shane Todd are sold out, but GCF24 is still managing to spoil comedy fans for choice. Here are our Top 5 recommendations for what to go to this weekend!
Mixed Bill nights
Missed festival artist-in-residence, Dylan Moran, earlier in the week? See him tonight (Thursday, October 24, 7pm ) as he headlines the mixed bill show at the Black Box Theatre.
Joining Dylan tonight will be leading Ulster comic, Colin Geddis; Irish comedy godfather, Barry Murphy; and festival favourite, Phill Jupitus, in the guise of Porky The Poet; along with the outrageously original Terry Alderton.
Tonight doesn’t suit? Catch Dylan at the Black Box again (Saturday, October 26, 7pm ), with another belting line-up, including Al Porter, continuing his triumphant return; Sinead Quinlan, who Chortle.co.uk described as “Ireland's new queen of comedy”; John Colleary, who just might be Tommy Tiernan’s favourite comedian; and Marcus Bridgstock, who you will know from Live at the Apollo and Mock The Week.
If you move very fast, you might just get tickets for the Sunday mixed bill of Al Porter, Jason Byrne, Emma Doran, Danny O’Brien, and Bernard Casey.
Mark Simmons
Most comedy these days is observational, story based, and reflective, but there will always be room for the time-honoured tradition of the one-liner - comedy in its shortest, sharpest, form, designed to make you laugh out loud and groan at the same time. One of the best new practitioners of this form is Mark Simmons, who makes his Galway debut at GCF24.
Simmons hit the headlines in August when his joke was voted the funniest of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe: “I was going to sail around the globe in the world’s smallest ship but I bottled it.” Want more? Then go to Quip Of The Mark (The Loft at Seven, Sunday, October 27, 8pm ), where an hour of such full-throttle zingers will be coming at you thick and fast.
Eddie Mullarkey
GCF is all about carefully curated craic resulting in much mirth, mischief and mayhem for Galway, but the Festival has a serious side. It is very serious about promoting and providing a platform for Galway talent. One such rising Galway comedy name is Eddie Mullarkey, who performs his new show, AIrish (The Loft at Seven, Saturday, October 26, 8pm ) at GCF24.
According to the man himself, it will involve live music, a robot, observational stand-up, crowd interaction, AI tech, and ancient Irish wisdom. “It’s going to be a blast,” he says, and you can put money on that. Support is from local comedy legend, Bob Hennigan.
Late Night KARLnival
There are many must-see shows at GCF24, but the must-see of all must-sees is unquestionably the Late Night KARLnival at the Róisín Dubh (Thursday to Sunday, 10.30pm ), hosted by the great Karl Spain.
This is the night every hardcore comedy fan in Galway wants to be at, and every comedian playing the Festival wants to perform at. It’s where comedians can be, and where audiences expect the comics to be, as outrageous as they like.
Tonight – Thursday - see Miles Jupp, still funny having endured a brain tumour, along with Terry Alderton, Enya Martin, Colin Geddis, and mystery guests. Friday is Phill Jupitus, Shane Todd, Marcus Bridgstock, and Barry Murphy. Saturday is David McSavage, Mark Simmons, Al Porter, Colum Tyrell, and more. Sunday is Dylan Moran, Danny O’Brien, John Colleary, and Bernard Casey.
Culture and comedy at Outset Gallery
GCF is a comedy festival which presents audiences with imaginative ways to engage with comedy, and gives comedians fresh avenues to practise their art.
At the Outset Gallery in The Cornstore on Middle Street, comedy fans will get to make art with Dylan Moran and Phill Jupitus.
Today, join Dylan Moran for CROWD WORK (12 noon ), a collaborative event for comedian and audience to create a large mural. Dylan will also host a public interview with DJ Shampain, about life as an artist and music producer living in Galway (3pm ).
Friday, October 25 will be ARTROBICS (12 noon ), where Dylan Moran and Seomra Yoga’s Paulie Hardiman will lead the audience in creating art on the surface of the gallery floor during a yoga session. Long-time Festival friend, Steve Steen, will host an improv workshop (3pm ), teaching participants the basics of improv through a series of easy and fun games.
Saturday, October 26, will see Al Porter interview Phill Jupitus and guests for a live podcast (12 noon ), and Hector Ó hEoghagáin will launch his new book, The Irish Words You Should Know, and take part in an interview with fellow Navan man, Dylan Moran (3pm ).
Sunday sees the return of Phill Jupitus’ Sketch Comic event (12 noon ), where Phill will lead a life-drawing session while interviewing a special guest.
Throughout the week, pop into the gallery between 10.30am and 5pm, to check out Dylan’s exhibition of drawings and sketches.
For tickets go to www.GalwayComedyFestival.ie
