Game for a Laugh at the 2014 Vodafone Comedy Festival

Looking for a breather amongst this year’s summer festival circuit? You might find yourself best placed at the Vodafone Comedy Festival.

The fourth edition of the internationally acclaimed Vodafone Comedy Festival takes place in the Iveagh Gardens in just over two weeks time. In what is one of the city centre’s most beautiful but lesser-known green spaces, you will find no dearth of comedic talent – and with 85 listed acts and four fully-seated indoor theatres, you’re guaranteed that there will be a little of something for everyone.

Up to 20,000 visitors are expected to visit the Gardens over the course of the comedy weekend (which runs from Thursday the 24th to Sunday the 27th of July), which this year features headliners such as our own inimitable Dara O’Briain, as well as Russell Howard, Jason Manford, and Milton Jones (amongst many others) for what is essentially the largest festival of its kind in Ireland.

According to the festival’s director Bren Barry, “comedy is as essential to our culture as music or literature…humour is ingrained in our national personality” – which goes some length to show why we’re often name checked as one of the best audiences in the world; and also why this year’s festival has gone to great lengths to make sure that the line-up has the largest contingent of international talent to ever grace the Iveagh Gardens (amongst whom are Canada’s Katherine Ryan, Denmark’s Sofie Hagen, and South Africa’s Trevor Noah). There will be no shortage of Irish talent either – amongst the 80+ acts listed are David O’Doherty, Maeve Higgins, and Republic of Telly’s Bernard O’Shea. There is also a focus on presenting emerging Irish acts, including emerging trio Foil, Arms and Hog, and So You Think You’re Funny award-winner Aisling Bea.

Comedians aside, the festival will also host numerous side-shows, street performers, and live music, while the Centre Stage will offer hand-picked interviews with guest acts, daily bites of festival content, and chances to win tickets to acts.

If you’re interested in heading on to the Festival, you should get going – tickets went on sale on the 16th of June, and are being sold on a show-by-show basis. However, they’re also very competitively priced, with prices starting at €20, and all tickets coming in at under €30 – excellent value for a taste of festival life without having to resort to a tent. Tickets can be booked at Ticketmaster or on the Vodafone Comedy Festival website.