Here ego again

Ballycotton is warming up its laughing muscles as we speak ahead of a bumper comedy event to be filmed for TV.

From 20 April, the hugely successful Alter Ego Comedy Club will make a return to the East Cork venue of Sea Church with a line-up of 12 Irish comedians over a 3 night extravaganza.

Hosted by Cork’s own Chris Kent, the performers will take to the stage over Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with each session to be filmed by award-winning Cork-based production company AV3 Media.

The idea behind the event is to give the performers an opportunity to showcase their material to a wider audience while putting on a top-class show for the lucky in-house comedy lovers over the 3 nights. Speaking of which, tickets are now on sale for the sessions and are expected to sell out fast!

Looking ahead to the shows, Chris Kent said: “I’m very excited to be hosting Alter Egos, bringing the best kept secrets from the Irish comedy scene to this incredibly unique setting of Sea Church. It’s going to be an amazing experience.”

The sessions get underway with award-winning funny man Martin Angolo on 20 April, a regular at comedy clubs and festivals all over Ireland and the UK. He has also appeared on Sky’s ‘The Deirdre O’Kane Show’.

Following Martin is Andrew Ryan, a master storyteller and one of the most in demand acts on the contemporary comedy scene in Ireland and the UK.

Next up on Thursday, bringing his tongue-in-cheek style comedy to East Cork is Ger Staunton, described recently as one of the best comedy writers in Ireland.

After Ger, we have Gearoid Farrelly, a finalist in ‘So you Think you’re Funny,’ and the winner of the Bulmer’s ‘Nuthin’ Butt Funny’ Comedy Award, which earned him supporting acts with Rich Hall and Michael Winslow as part of the Bulmer's Comedy Festival.

Kicking Friday’s sessions off is winner of the 2016 Bray Comedy Festival Cornelius Patrick O’Sullivan who, in his own words, “writes poems that rarely rhyme”.

Also performing that night is the acclaimed Alison Spittle, a comedy writer, radio producer and actress who has written and starred in RTÉ2 sitcom ‘Nowhere Fast’ in 2017.

Alison said: “Delighted to come back to the beautiful Sea Church and get some of my stand up on camera instead of a terrible gig on YouTube I did 10 years ago.”

Next on the stage is Eleanor Tiernan, an actor who has been in the comedy scene for many years. Eleanor performs at venues around the world and occasionally writes for TV shows, magazines, and websites.

Finishing off Friday’s session is Cork native Ross Browne who has travelled the world as a stand-up comedian, writer, actor, and presenter.

Laura O’Mahoney will get things started on Saturday, particularly well-known to Cork audiences as one third of the comedy troupe CCCahoots. Laura is a stalwart of the local stand-up scene and has made a host of TV appearances in shows such as RTE's 'The School' and children's favourite 'The Body Brothers’.

Writer, actor, and Cork native Sinead Quinlan is up next. Sinead first emerged on the comedy scene after winning a competition on RTÉ television.

Áine Gallagher, AKA The Queen of Offbeat, will follow Sinead. Áine has been on the comedy scene since 2011 as a professional stand-up comedian, storyteller, writer and comedy training facilitator.

Then, capping off the whole event, will be Tralee native Shane Clifford whose Facebook page ‘Shane’s Brilliant Page’ has earned him a strong reputation in comedy circles. He won the Joe.ie Rising Star award for 2017.

Tickets for the shows are now on sale for €32.50 and include a drinks promotion. For more information or

to book, visit seachurch.ie.