Black Books star Dylan Moran is headlining the 2018 Vodafone Comedy Carnival in his only Irish appearance this year.
And there’s plenty of other reasons to laugh as the Comedy Carnival has released the full programme for this year’s festival in October with over 100 acts performing at 18 venues around the city.
8 Out Of 10 Cats team captain Sean Lock will be on for three nights at the Black Box Theatre in an Irish exclusive.
Rhys Darby, better known as Murray from Flight of the Concords will be recording his special Mystic Time Bird at the Town Hall Theatre for anyone that fancies having their undignified laugh face immortalised on film.
US stand-up and frequent performer in Galway Reginald D. Hunter is back with his side splittingly honest take on issues like race and sexuality.
And the Comedy Carnival is happy to welcome the Lost Voice Guy to the stage in his Irish debut just a few month’s winning Britain’s Got Talent.
CEO Simon Heaslip said, “The Comedy Carnival really adds to the buzz of the city and my hope is that anyone making their first trip to Galway, be they customers or performers get to experience some of the magic that residents and regular visitors feel so intensely.”
Mr Heaslip thanked the city council for allowing the Carnival to set up its Comedy Village in Eyre Square, where the iconic Spiegeltent is returning once again.
There are many, many more acts to catch like Gina Yashere, British corespondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, and guru of the one-liner Milton Jones.
Phil Jupitus is making a long-awaited return to stand-up, and to mix it up he’ll also be reciting poetry as his alter-ego Porky the Poet, deejaying, improvising with Steve Frost’s troupe, presenting festival radio and hopefully cooking the breakfast.
The Festival’s new Artistic Director Martyne Green said, “I’m thrilled to be stepping up to the helm of this year’s Vodafone Comedy Carnival in Galway.
“It has been one of my favourite festivals for many a year and I’m proud to be playing a part in bringing what, I think, is a wonderful line-up from all spectrums of comedy, to visitors and locals alike.”
“Galway is such a vibrant city all year round but there really is something special about that last week in October – you can feel the funny in the air.”
Other comedians bringing their brand of silliness include Jason Byrne, Terry Alderton, Phil Nichol, Paul Currie, Today FM’s Dermot & Dave, and Britain’s least efficient publican Al Murray.
For a look at the full line-up of events and comedians who’ll be in town, go to the Comedy Carnival’s website.
The Vodafone Comedy Carnival runs for seven days from October 23 – 28.
Tickets go on sale next Tuesday, August 28.
