Continuing on the success of Thirst in 2006 and Bokety in 2007, the objective of Comedy Tour is to make the residents of Ranelagh helpless with laughter. The Comedy Tour has been co-curated by Ranelagh-born actress and director Órla McGovern (above left). Órla has acted in film and theatre in Europe and has recently returned from living in the USA. She has worked with Punchbag, the Project Arts Centre and The Abbey. She is currently working on a number of theatre and voice projects, as well as teaching Improvisation.

Snatch Comedy offer a a high energy show where everything is improvised.This is the ultimate in audience participation.

Bulmers’ Comedy Competition winner 2007, Mayo-based comedian Kieran Lawless will be joined by a selection of comedians from ‘down the country’, bringing their zany humour to deepest Ranelagh.

Mrs. Nellie Murphy hails from the Coombe. She has sold haddock on both sides of the pond, as well as the odd pair of sports socks. In Seattle, Nellie took a (albeit accidental) night class in poetry and now performs the odd night of erotic writing for the elderly lady. Nellie is delighted to be back in Ireland, having been gone for 10 years, and is looking forward to the giant piss-up at the wake of the feckin’ Celtic Tiger.

Note from the Artistic Director: Nellie is looking to share accommodation in Ranelagh and has heard that there is great craic to be had in Humphrey’s Pub, especially when ‘the racing crowd’ is around. Perhaps one of them would be kind enough to ‘share’ with Nellie.

Musicians and comedians Dermot Carmody and Morgan C. Jones (left) host a special edition of At Last, the 1989 Show!, bringing their original songs, splendid asides and off-the-cuff improvisation to the Ranelagh Arts Festival for one night only.

Dermot Carmody (left), a graduate of the exacting University of Belgrave Road, started his comedy life in 1988 when he co-founded the Comedy Cellar club in Dublin’s International Bar with Barry Murphy, Kevin Gildea, Ardal O’Hanlon and other villains.

Ranelagh-native Morgan C. Jones is one half of the 2irish News team. He is married with six children and dreams of one day getting the Dalai Lama really, really, really drunk.