I'm a big stand up comedy fan and god knows most of us could do with a good laugh these days. My all time favourites would be Richard Pryor, Bill Hicks and Chris Rock. Two I've seen live recently and were brilliant were Dylan Moran and Bill Bailey. I'd be interested to know who tickles other HS users (so to speak) and who to look out for in future.

bluboy (Dublin) - Posts: 318 - 30/04/2009 10:51:33    272118

love a good titter i do and i think the irish are very good. ed byrnes stand up i thought was brilliant.neil delamere,dara o'brien and patrick kielty are very good too. tommy teirnan's early stuff was good but his later stuff isnt great.any comedian who has to shout and curse to get laughs aren worth watching like jason byrne. favorites are chris rock,eddie murphy's RAW and ed byrne

Rhodejim (Offaly) - Posts: 2888 - 30/04/2009 11:18:30    272152

I was in the International Bar there on Wicklow Street at the Comedy Club last night, great night out for a tenner.

3inarow08 (Kerry) - Posts: 2455 - 30/04/2009 11:22:09    272158

Rhodejim, totally agree about Tommy Tiernan. I do find him pretty funny when I've seen him on tv but bought his DVD and the absolutely constant swearing put me off. Don't get me wrong I'm all in favour of a well place **** but when it's every second word it's a bit off-putting IMO. The International is a good spot for comedy and reasonable as regards price. I always admire those who get up on stage there, particularly the not very good ones! Takes some balls

bluboy (Dublin) - Posts: 318 - 30/04/2009 12:15:11    272195

To this day i think Chris Rocks Bigger and Blacker, and Eddie Murphys Raw and Delerious shows are the best. The way they deal with topics such as racism is hilarious. Also think Ricky Gervais is brilliant and saw Rob Brydon on Live At The Apollo a few weeks ago and never laughed so hard.

Keane16 (Kerry) - Posts: 306 - 30/04/2009 12:28:28    272208

Dylan Moran would be up there at the top, quality. Agree about Tommy Tiernan as well, although the show he puts on when in Navan can be hilarious as he tailors it for the audience. Saw Neil Delamare last year when I was home and the fact he spent the first 30 mins just interacting and taking the mick out of the crowd, pure natural talent. All time favourite has to be Billy Connolly, don't think I've ever watched a performance that didn't leave me in pain from laughing so much!

Bermuda_Bomber (Meath) - Posts: 101 - 30/04/2009 13:26:11    272301

Forgot to mention Ricky Gervais, has anyone heard the podcasts he done with Steve Merchant and Karl Pilkington, some of the funniest stuff I've ever heard!

Bermuda_Bomber (Meath) - Posts: 101 - 30/04/2009 13:51:53    272346

Billy Connolly and Peter Kay are right up there with the best. Saw some Welsh comedian do stand up on tv and he was very funny. Think he also sang in Islands in the Stream for Comic Relief or Red Nose Day a few months back. Not sure of his name.

Fredthered (Donegal) - Posts: 1144 - 30/04/2009 14:22:44    272388

STEWART LEE!!
Frankie Boyle
Dylan Moran - the best thing to come out of Meath since Raymond Cunningham!

Don't like many of the Irish comedians, Tommy Tiernan is interesting at times, but never ever makes me laugh! Ed Byrne, Jason Byrne are terrible. Dara O'Briain is pretty good i suppose

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12381 - 30/04/2009 15:29:00    272463

My most liked comedians
1. Billy Connolly
2. Lee Evans
3. Tommy Cooper


My most hated
1. Des Bishop
2. Tommy Tiernan
3. the big fat English lad who think he's a barman

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 30/04/2009 15:38:49    272480

Think its Al Murray you are thinking of Duffy89.

Fredthered (Donegal) - Posts: 1144 - 30/04/2009 16:09:03    272518

I know you didn't ask but il give a top 5 anyway

1. Bill Hicks, RIP (Genius)
2. Dylan Moran
3. Mitch Hedberg, RIP (id highly recommend Mitch for people with alternative tastes)
4. Doug Stanhope
5. Bill Bailey

Jesus bluboy we have a lot in common, one more good post and il be asking for your number!!! Anyway id have to say that Bill Hicks was just a pure genius, a man who was years ahead of his time and never gave a bad preformance. Mitch Hedberg was aslo a great comedian and he had this sort of loveable awkwardness about him that was very endearing to the audience, definitely my favourite one-liner comedian. Its a shame those 2 legends aren't with us today.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 30/04/2009 16:49:17    272553

Yeah thats it Fredthered,Al Murray,cant stand em,cant understand em,desperate

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 30/04/2009 16:59:38    272565

Bermuda: Karl Pilkington is a genius and an idiot!

Best stand up in Ireland has to be David O'Doherty

Can't stand most of the so called 'comedians' on 'the panel' since O'Brian left.

JuanVeron (Westmeath) - Posts: 1866 - 30/04/2009 17:02:07    272567

Htaem, pity there's not more Bill Hicks stuff about, DVDs etc but I'd recommend a book called Love All the People it's a compilation of Hicks letters, Lyrics and routines - absolutely laugh out loud funny. Little tip though, don't read it on public transport. I was readin it on the train once and and my constant giggling drew more than a few funny looks.

bluboy (Dublin) - Posts: 318 - 30/04/2009 17:12:56    272581

30/04/2009 14:22:44
Fredthered
County: Donegal
Posts: 280

272388 Billy Connolly and Peter Kay are right up there with the best. Saw some Welsh comedian do stand up on tv and he was very funny. Think he also sang in Islands in the Stream for Comic Relief or Red Nose Day a few months back. Not sure of his name.


are you on about Max Boyce from the 70's,he was Welsh & he was fairly funny aswell

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 30/04/2009 17:14:43    272584

Think he's referrint to Michael mcIntyre, hes not bad. Lee Evans is a scream and I am going to see Roy "Chubby" Brown in the summer.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 30/04/2009 18:38:47    272691

I thought Roy ''Chubby'' Brown was retired,fair deuce to the man

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 30/04/2009 19:21:03    272723

The Welsh comedian who did the Comic Relief record is Rob Brydon.
Saw Bill Bailey several years ago at the Edinburgh festival, genius, sides hurt for a week after it. Ditto Billy Connolly, have seen him live a few times, when he is on his game he is brilliant.
Like Frankie Boyle, though haven't really seen his stand up routine (no funny comments) but like his input into MTW. Like Dylan Moran/Black Books. Like Rich Hall. Lee Evans is barking mad - aside from Christy Moore, have you ever seen anyone else sweat so much on stage??
Saw a routine by Stephen K. Amos on Live at the Apollo a while back, very funny. Think Michael McIntyre is funny too, nothing controversial but good observational humour. Dara O'Briain's Apollo set was very good too, haven't seen him live though.
Agree re. Tommy Tiernan, has moments of brilliance but relies too much now on swearing for the sake of it. I don't get the barman bloke either.
From my 'youth' I loved Morecambe & Wise, Ronnie Barker (genius writer), Tommy Cooper, Dave Allen, Spike Milligan among others...

U21 fan (None) - Posts: 126 - 30/04/2009 19:23:43    272725

Billy Connolly, Richard Pryor and Dylan Moran set the bar, few other honourable mentions above but knowone else comes close to these 3

BobMalooka (Leitrim) - Posts: 37 - 30/04/2009 23:19:28    272915