What is it about Ireland and the world renowned Irish sense of humour?
Maybe it is a nationwide sense of mirth to laugh at everything about ourselves, coined by the Irish phrase of “taking the mick”, meaning having a laugh.
It is an ingrained trait that has seen the Irish through the centuries, when things don’t go to plan instead of collapsing in despair we have learned to look at the funny side and laugh at the irony and stupidity of everything. Irish humour can be thought of as the ultimate in sarcasm where nothing or no one, not priests nor politicians, is too sacred to mock or to “take the mick out of”.
Welcome to a land where nothing runs on time, where the transport minister heads away on a sun holiday in the middle of a 3 week freezefest, where a prominent airline considered charging people for the “privilege” of using the airline facilities during the recession, and where a former finance minister and taoiseach quotes from “Father Ted” when asked about the “serious matter” of his private finances. All in all a land where no-one takes anything seriously and a land that has spawned some of the best comedy shows, writers and comedians of all time. Comedians such as Dave Allen, Brendon Grace, Sean Hughes, Tommy Tiernan, Dylan Moran, Dara O’Briain, Ardal O’Hanlon, David O’Doherty, Meave Higgins, Deirdre O’ Kane, Jason Byrne, Neil Delamare to name just a few.
For a chance to relax and lay back and witness some of this Irish sense of humour you can watch the news and the political and sporting commentary (and that’s the serious stuff) or better yet why not sit down with a pint and checkout great comedy in action at the many comedy venues and pubs around the country.
However if you have the chance why not see some of the best of national and international stars in action in some of our world renowned Comedy festivals. Here’s a sample
Carlsberg Cat Laughs Festival
3rd June to 7th June 2010
The Mother of all Irish Comedy festivals and one of the top five comedy festivals in the world, Ireland’s favourite festival, The Carlsberg Cat Laughs Comedy Festival runs in Kilkenny for the June Bank Holiday. Since it’s inception in 1994 this festival has rapidly established itself as one of the best comedy festivals in the world.
Attracting a host of the best national and international stand-up comedians and comedy improvisers, the comedy festival provides for simple fun and exhilaration. Five days of fun and laughter are guaranteed with over 85 live performances in the relaxing surrounds of 14 of Kilkenny’s best loved venues. Continue reading →
