COMEDIANS FROM around the world togged out for a gruelling kick-about in glorious sunshine yesterday. Ireland’s funny-11 took on the rest of the world in a heated game as part of the Carlsberg Cat Laughs comedy festival which comes to a close in Kilkenny today.
More than 25,000 comedy fans attended the five-day festival featuring 86 shows by 62 comedians in pubs and venues across the Marble City.
Des Bishop, Jason Byrne and Tommy Tiernan were among the Irish comedians to perform with overseas artists such as Alonzo Bodden, Reginald D Hunter, Rich Hall and Ross Noble.
The football match ended 3-1 to the Rest of the World.
There were onscreen giggles at the “Messin’ with You Tube” show last night as David O’Doherty and Barry Murphy took fans through some of the funniest moments from the video clip website.
Elsewhere, the murky depths of the comedic psyche was to the fore at the Dark Show, featuring Andrew Lawrence, Greg Giraldo and Andrew Maxwell, where taboo and non-PC subject matter was a guarantee.
Organiser Liz Bailey said that the event had been a “huge success” and she is looking forward to next year’s festival already.
“It’s been brilliant. The weather’s been fantastic and the comedians and fans have been having a great time.”