Boom, boom!

OVER a single weekend in Edinburgh this summer, Irish comedy came of age - and happily this has coincided with a boom time for Irish comedy clubs. From the seminal Comedy Cellar in Dublin to the Delacroix Club in Derry to the City Limits Club in Cork. with all points in between catered for, there is always something somewhere going on, and Irish comics tend to reflect the whole width and breadth of the comedy spectrum from slapstick and surreal to character driven and deadpan.

In these days of beer company sponsorship, it is worthwhile reflecting on the success of Dublin's Comedy Cellar in the International Bar on Wicklow Street. Since it started seven years ago, it has been run by comics for comics, and despite the fact that it doesn't even have a microphone, has produced two major stars in the shape of Ardal O'Hanlon and Dylan Moran.

Meanwhile on the written front, we await the results of the first comedy script writing course to be held in this country, which was organised by the Galway Film Centre.

Despite everything this year, there is still a need for immediate financial investment in comedy performance/writing. Both The Arts Council and RTE could and should be doing more - and while on the subject of RTE, would it be too much to ask for their comedy to be written by comedians?

Artist to watch:

Ed Byrne, from Swords, Co Dublin, looks likely to do some serious damage next year. Nobody here knows him, mainly because he went to college in Glasgow and then moved down to London to work on the comedy circuit there. Slick, urbane and very funny. Remember the name.

This year's Must Sees:

1. The Kilkenny Cat Laughs Festival: This year, the organisers consolidated their position and the festival is now up there with Montreal and Edinburgh on the international festival circuit. The third Cat Laughs looks like being the biggest and best yet. Book early.

2. So You Think You're Funny heats: Because the Irish did so well in this Edinburgh talent spotting competition (the first four were Irish) the organisers (Channel 4) will be holding numerous heats in this country. Watch this paper for details.

3. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival: Still the most important comedy festival in the world, and one that has been very kind to the Irish over the years. Expect all of last year's winners and runners up to come back with full shows this year.

4. Amnesty International Benefit: This charity gig is the largest ever collection of Irish comedy talent, with anybody who is anyone taking to the Gaiety stage on February 2nd. Confirmed names so far include Dylan Moran, Kevin McAleer, Ardal O'Hanlon, D'Unbelievables, The Nualas, Barry Murphy, Pauline McLynn, Brendan O'Carroll and Ed Byrne. Tickets, priced £30 and £40, are now on sale from 01-6771717.

5. Jason Byrne: If this young Dubliner finds the right sort of producer to harness his wild and extravagant talents, he has the potential to become a major circuit/television star. Think Tommy Cooper.

6. Tommy Tiernan: Since winning the SYTYF award this summer, this Galway based Navan comic has come on in leaps and bounds. Now managed by the same person as Ardal O'Hanlon, he has already made highly successful forays on to the London circuit.