It was great in so many ways. The comedy, the atmosphere, the venues, and more than ever before the weather.
We were blessed with good luck this year for the Carlsberg Cat Laughs Comedy Festival which took Kilkenny by storm. Nobody could have predicted the crowds which topped off at around 30,000 people at the height of the weekend, and nobody could have predicted the temperatures which didn’t hit below 25 degrees until after nine at night.
Comedians were everywhere, day and night, and the crowds followed them wherever they went. The top comedians once again did not disappoint. And Jason Byrne, Des Bishop, Tommy Tiernan, and Adam Hills were firm favourites over the festival with crowds all in agreement that they remained the top comedians of all time.
Irish comedians appear to tickle the fancy of an Irish audience more than most, and this is evident with the sell-out shows of most of the Irish comics. Andrew Maxwell, Colm Murphy, Barry Murphy, Ardal O’ Hanlon, and Maeve Higgins all went down a treat with the discerning crowd. However the Kilkenny audience, although brimming with praise when appropriate, are not afraid to voice their lack of enthusiasm when deemed fit.
One such case was Hans Teeuvan who was being introduced by dynamic duo Adam Hills and Jason Byrne. The Dutch man had been lauded as a comic genius by many prior to the festival but I failed to see it... and unfortunately, so did many others who illustrated their lack of interest in his madness by walking out. The two experienced Cat Laughs attendees Adam and Jason however saved the show with a life-saving technique akin to a life vest for the entire audience, who quickly bounced back after the departure of the flying Dutchman. However an audience member then went a step further and needed medical attention and had to be removed from the room. Adam and Jason never had so much impromptu material to work with!
Jimeoin also proved dramatic on Monday night when he ran from the stage in order to get sick. Maeve Higgins threw him a lifeline and stood in for him at the last minute - but rumour has it, Jimeoin quickly recovered from his illness.
Des Bishop seemed to have the gift of bilocation as many saw him on Ryan Tubridy on Saturday night only to see him in the same pink jumper in what seemed like only minutes later in the festival club in the Ormonde! We knew he was talented but that takes the biscuit!
And all the comics showed their extra-curricular talents on the soccer pitch at the Fair Green on Sunday afternoon with Ireland v the Rest of the World. Comedians Karl Spain and Phil Jupitus commentated on the football match giving interesting anecdotes throughout, which kept the fans on the sidelines in stitches and engrossed in the antics on the pitch. All eyes were on Adam Hills who played in goal while wearing his spare foot. Fingers and toes were crossed that nothing would happen his prosthetic leg as he was wearing his spare, and his normal leg was winging its way to Kilkenny by courier. It all went well and without major incident and the Rest of the World took home the cup with a great win of 3-1.
The grand finale of the year’s festival took place with G’night Cats on Monday night where several of the comedians got up for a few minutes each to give a final few words about the weekend of laughter. All in all this was another very successful weekend for the Cat Laughs Festival and for comedy fans who pledge to return year on year.
