If you're looking for a laugh this Summer, make your way to Dublin's Iveagh Gardens from July 21st – 24th.
The Paddy Power Comedy Festival (formerly known as the Vodafone Comedy Festival) returns to the Iveagh Gardens with over 90 artists performing across four stages: The Bleedin' Massive Stage, The Craic Den, The Only Joke Inn and The Free Gaff.
This year's star-studded lineup includes Irish comics Tommy Tiernan, Dylan Moran, Neil Delamere and Deirdre O'Kane; US stand ups Patti Harrison, Mary Beth Barone, and SNL's Andrew Dismuke; and UK acts such as Fern Brady, Helen Bauer, Sindhu Vee and Dane Baptiste.
With so much homegrown and international talent to choose from, we've rounded up our top five acts to enjoy at this year's festival.
Patti Harrison
Patti Harrison is an actress, writer, stand-up comic, and all around star in the making. Having recently starred alongside Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in The Lost City and having won 'Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television/Media Production' at the Annie Awards for her work on adult animation Big Mouth, the Ohio woman is one to catch while you can.
Find Patti in The Craic Den on Thursday at 9:30pm, and The Only Joke Inn on Friday at 7:30pm and Saturday at 9:30pm.
Dane Baptiste
Self-proclaimed 'Woke Joker' Dane Baptiste has been making history as a Black creative in the UK. In 2014, he became the first Black British solo comic to be nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer with his special Citizen Dane. Then, just two years later, he created Sunny D, the first Black sitcom commissioned by the BBC in 20 years.
As well as an extensive list of TV credits on panel shows such as Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Baptiste hosts a hugely successful podcast called Dane Baptiste Questions Everything, and has toured his way around the globe.
You can find Dane on The Bleedin' Massive Stage on Saturday at 9:30pm and The Only Joke Inn on Sunday at 7:30pm.
Shane Todd
Belfast stand-up Shane Todd has been making headlines recently thanks to his viral worthy interviews on his hit podcast, Tea With Me. The fact that he's been opening for comedic super star Kevin Hart across Ireland hasn't hurt either.
The Jack-of-all-trades found his stride during the pandemic thanks to his many creative ventures: Rave Lockdowns on Radio Ulster; Previously with Shane Todd on BBC; We're Not F***ing Historians with co-host Hazel Hayes; and his hit comedy podcast Tea with Me featuring famous faces like Jamie Dornan, Janet Devlin, and Derry Girls stars Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Jamie-Lee O'Donnell.
You can find Shane on The Bleedin' Massive Stage on Saturday at 4:30pm and The Free Gaff on Sunday at 7:30pm.
Killian Sundermann
i've been reviewing my local hedges pic.twitter.com/GCcoUfXDAX
— Killian Sundermann (@killersundymann) January 29, 2021
Since going viral in 2020 with his reactionary videos to COVID-19 measures, funnyman Killian Sundermann has garnered an impressive following of fans across Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
Since then, as well as posting in-depth hedge reviews, the Dublin man's creative ventures have led him to some exciting projects: a sensuous charity calendar; a mock morning show alongside Irish comedy stars Tony Cantwell, Michael Fry, Shane Daniel Byrne, Emma Doran, Justine Stafford, Peter McGann, and Martin Angolo; and, most importantly, bringing his comedy stylings on stage.
You can catch him at the The Only Joke Inn on Thursday at 7:30pm and The Bleedin' Massive Stage on Friday at 9:30pm.
Flo & Joan
Sisters Nicola and Rosie Dempsey are the comedy minds behind Flo & Joan, a multi-award winning British musical comedy duo that have appeared on high-profile shows such as Live at the Apollo, Jonathan Ross' Comedy Club and The Russell Howard Hour.
The pair have headlined gigs across the globe and currently have an hour-long special streaming on Amazon Prime. Their accolades include Top 10 Show of the Edinburgh Fringe at the Amused Moose Comedy Awards, Chortle's Best Music and Variety Act, Montreal Sketchfest Best of the Fest Selection and Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival’s Now Magazine Audience Choice Award.
You can see Flo & Joan at The Free Gaff at Saturday at 7pm and The Craic Den at 7:30pm on Sunday.
For full details of the Paddy Power Comedy Festival line-up, programme information and to buy tickets, go here.
