Alas, the dark shadow of poverty-stricken anguish that is January is upon us once again. In times like these, there’s really nothing for it but to hit up some comedy gigs, lest you find yourself spontaneously weeping into your pot noodle. This fortnight, a host of acts will brave the bitter cold, in the hope of putting a smile on your sad little face. Ignore the gaping black hole that is your bank account we say, and beg, steal or borrow to get to some of these live comedy extravaganzas…!

First up, it’s Liberties man Brendan Grace. The comedian and actor (who could forget his Father Ted turn as jungle music loving Fr. Fintan Stack?) hits the road this month, taking in a whopping 11 venues. Catch the school-uniform clad Dubliner at the Shearwater Hotel, Galway (January 17), Mount Errigal Hotel, Donegal (18), Springhill Court, Kilkenny (19), Devon Hotel, Limerick (20), Abbey Court, Tipperary (22), Radisson SAS, Westmeath (23), Headfort Arms, Meath (24), Forum, Waterford (26), Charleville Park, Cork (27), Johnstown Hotel, Meath (30) and Arklow Bay Hotel, Wicklow (31).
Also touring this fortnight is fellow Dubliner Jason Byrne. In his new show, The People’s Puppeteer, the Ballinteer man aims to “keep control of an audience while losing control of himself”. We’re intrigued! See him live at the Barbican, Drogheda (19), Cork Opera House (24), Draiocht, Dublin (25) and Theatre Royal, Waterford (31).
Meanwhile, Navan’s finest, Tommy Tiernan, returns to his spiritual home of Vicar St., Dublin for a slew of dates (17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27), while Keith Farnan does his thing in the Laughter Lounge (18, 19). Elsewhere, Limerick man and one-half of D’Unbelievables, Pat Shortt heads to the Radisson SAS (18) and Kerry’s INEC (25), while Andrew Maxwell plays a one-off show in Galway’s Roisin Dubh (26).
Catch Offaly native Neil Delamere at Glór, Clare (19), Town Hall, Galway (24) and University Concert Hall, Limerick (26), and musical comedy genius David O’Doherty at Hawkswell, Sligo (18), Linenhall Arts Centre, Mayo (25) and the Wexford Arts Centre (26). Happy new year!