To The Titter End

The comedy stage at Electric Picnic boasts an outstanding line-up this year. Dylan Moran, not long back from the US, is perhaps the biggest star on the bill. His surreal wit and idiosyncratic, almost poetic, turn of phrase has made him a household name in Ireland and the UK. One of the most interesting spectacles will be seeing how his irascible stage persona copes with the vagaries of a music festival. Moran’s jaunt over to the States this summer culminated in an appearance on the David Letterman show last June. More intriguingly, the Black Book’s star became the first Irish stand-up to perform in Russia, with his routine translated via headphones. No such technological aids will be needed in Laois.

A long-time crowd favourite in Ireland, Reginald D Hunter also lands into Stradbally. Hunter is a regular visitor to the island. Last month he played both the Vodafone Comedy Festival and The Galway Arts Festival. Not only that, he played 14 venues around the country last May, including Vicar Street. All this, while appearing on BBC comedy panel shows every other week. He has acknowledged a deep affinity with Irish audiences in the past, suggesting that Irish crowds instinctively “get” his humour better than most. However, in a worrying departure from the standard practice of American visitors to the country, he has yet to claim any ancestry in Ireland. Nonetheless, the drawling Texan has vowed to spend a year in a small village here once he gets the cash together.
The crowds are sure to gather ‘round the comedy tent for David O’Doherty and his comedy keyboard. Witty, offbeat, low-key (my aim is to be the first journalist not to used the word “whimsical” to describe O’Doherty) and delightfully self-referential, O’Doherty has become one of the most revered of all Irish funny-men. He’s putting in a marathon turn at the Edinburgh fringe this year, playing every night in the Pleasance Courtyard from July 31 - August 25, before shooting back here in time for the Stradbally extravaganza.
Gunther Grun, alias of Aprés Match’s Barry Murphy, will give audiences his salty and brusque take on the Irish character and no doubt launch a stern defence of Angela Merkel’s conduct during the economic crisis. Grun markets himself modestly, but with typical precision, as the 12th best German comic currently residing in Ireland.
A staple of RTÉ’s comedy output, Bernard O’Shea returns home to Laois for EP. O’Shea’s endearing stage presence, cheery but put-upon persona and sharp jokes make him a delight.
Young guns appearing at the festival include a couple of highly gifted livewires in Niamh Marron and Al Porter, stars of the recent RTE New Comedy Awards.
One act that is sure to bring the house down are the brilliant Foil, Arms & Hog. Their explosively funny, expertly performed sketches are guaranteed to leave audiences convulsed.
Fred Cooke is best known to Irish people as the dope from the Spar ads. His set at Electric Picnic will give revellers the chance to remember him for something else. Cooke is a wonderfully expressive comedian with a highly inventive comic brain.
Countless other great acts can be seen at the festival, including Andrew Maxwell, John Colleary, Chris Kent, Eleanor Tiernan, Colm O’Regan, and more...
The Comedy Stage at Electric Picnic is open Saturday 31 August and Sunday 1.
Elsewhere, many Irish comics will flock to the Edinburgh festival for varying lengths of time. Some, however, will shirk it in favour of home comforts.
Tommy Tiernan continues his soulful and invigorating ‘World Tour of the Islands.’ The wildman of Troytown Heights, Navan, Co Meath treks to Tory Island Social Club off the coast of Donegal (17 Aug ), before journeying south to do a trio of gigs in the Aran Islands (22-25 Aug) finishing up in the Community Centre in Inishbofin.

Best of the Rest
The Capital Comedy Club plays host to Ding Dong Denny O’Reilly on 25 August. Paul Woodfull’s delightful spoof of The Wolfe Tones, O’Reilly rails against British imperialism long after many of his weak-willed compatriots have abandoned hostilities, with rabble rousers like ‘Spit at the Brits’ and ‘The Craic We Had The Day We Died For Ireland’
One of the stars of the EP comedy tent, John Colleary is playing three straight nights at the Laughter Lounge (15-17 Aug) as is inimitable Ballymun comic Willa White (22-24 Aug)