Summer really is Kilkenny’s time to shine. As well as (probably) winning the hurling All-Ireland for the zillionth time – courtesy, no doubt, of their infamous ‘on the edge’ style – the Marble City plays host this fortnight to the annual Cat Laughs festival. Taking place from May 31 – June 4, the event’s line-up reads like a veritable who’s who of the comedy world, welcoming a host of both Irish and international talent to the city over five days.

Thursday sees homegrown acts Karl Spain, David O’Doherty, Jarlath Regan and Foil, Arms & Hog do their thing, while drier-than-dry comedian Jack Dee pays a visit from across the pond. On Friday, Dee performs again, as well as fellow visitors Milton Jones, Al Murray and Adam Hills. They join our own Des Bishop (ah he’s our own at this stage), Neil Delamere and Jason Byrne.
Saturday sees a performance of Ireland’s Got Mammies (with Colm O’Regan), as well as stand-up sets from Ian Coppinger, Fred Cooke, Eric Lalor and Andrew Stanley, while on Sunday, former Never Mind The Buzzcocks host Simon Amstell takes to the stage, as well as Dom Irrera, Aidan Bishop and Mike Wilmot. Finally, Monday sees Amstell perform again, before ‘Goodnite Cats’ sees out the fest that night. For full details, see thecatlaughs.com.
If you can’t make it to Kilkenny, fear not – there’s plenty more hilarious happenings taking place around the country this fortnight. Bill Bailey performs at the Bord Gáis Theatre on May 31, with all proceeds going to St. Vincent de Paul. He then takes to the Olympia’s stage on June 1 and 2.
One half of D’Unbelievables, Pat Shortt, brings I Am The Band to his native Limerick (Friar’s Gate Theatre) on June 1 and 2, St. John’s Theatre, Listowel, Kerry (8) and George Bernard Shaw Theatre, Carlow (9). Aidan Killian hosts Laugh Out Loud in Dublin’s Anseo on June 6, and this fortnight welcomes Scottish funnyman Phil Kay. Catch Kay again in the Bad Ass Café (7, 8). Des Bishop continues to tour Des Bishop Likes To Bang, with a stop-off in Glór, Clare on June 9. The Nualas are at Vicar St. on June 8, and the Visual and GBS Theatre, Carlow (13), while Stewart Francis has a one-off show in Vicar St. on June 9.