Well, he said he would, and he did! Billy McGrath, RTE’s Head of Light Entertainment, followed up on his promise to promote home-grown Irish comedy by staging the second of RTE’s New Comedy Awards in Dublin recently. Two semi-finals were staged in Dublin in November, where 16 new talents, selected from over 100 video submissions, got their chance to prove themselves in the live arena. Four grand-finalists will appear on RTE’s flagship Late Late Show on November 9th, and one lucky winner at least, will walk off-stage with over £3,000 in cash and developmental funding.

Hoot Press went along to see for ourselves how new comedy is being supported by the national broadcaster. We were both surprised and delighted to experience two first-class comedy evenings which prove that for every Tommy Tiernan or Deirdre O’Kane, there are at least a half-dozen worthy contenders for Irish, and indeed international, comedy stardom. An added pleasure for the hotpress crew in attendance was the appearance of at least 10 comedy newcomers who have been featured on these pages in the last year, proving that RTE aren’t the only Irish institution with an eye for new native comedy.

On October 18th Dublin comedian Eddie Bannon was master-of-ceremonies, providing an excellent warm-up set and creating a convivial and welcoming atmosphere for the first finalist, JAMES McDERMOT. Bearing a startling resemblance to Jarvis Cocker, James’ palpable nerves were more than compensated for by some top-class original material, including a double-edged little gag that concerned his girlfriend accusing him of nosiness. Not that she said it to his face, you understand, but he read it in her diary.

BRIAN LEWIS is a Liverpool Irishman with a wry take on fatherhood whose toddler son has the clever trick of asking loudly for his ‘real daddy’ when denied treats at supermarket outings.

MOIRA GANNON is a Scottish native who runs a taxi-cab/brothel, apparently, but it’s Carrickmacross’ MICHAEL DOWNEY who ups the ante with an excellent set that has seen him go from open-mic slots in Dublin to Edinburgh in less than a year. Pornography could be made more attractive to women, insists Downey, with some minor title changes: Suck My Massive Todger… But Only When You Feel Like It. Hell, I’d rent it.

SEAMUS CARABINE from Northern Ireland gives us a take on the differences between the Loyalist and Republican traditions that sadly doesn’t grip his Dublin audience tonight, despite his clever use of props. Likewise EAMON FARELL seems to allow his nerves to inhibit some well observed material, but bear in mind that this is new comedy. These acts are taking their first tentative steps into a difficult arena and will surely get better.

CATHERINE MAHER has made a stage-show of channelling her nervous energy, and delivers a machine-gun blast of girly gags that have the women in the audience rolling in the aisles, an occurence that couldn’t suit cutesy-comic NEIL DELAMARE more, as he proceeds to charm the pants off the entire room. Almost.

It’s a difficult choice for the judges, who tonight include Deirdre O’Kane and Belfast’s Empire Comedy Club supremo Jackie Hamilton, but ultimately Downey and Delamare are the chosen ones. “It’s down to how it plays on the night,” explains Deirdre, “if someone has the material but plays slightly below par we have to go for the best on the night. I feel sorry for the girls though, but I’ve no doubt we’ll be seeing more of all these acts.”

October 25th and back at HQ another eight would-be megastars are limbering up backstage as MC Des Bishop delivers a diamond-hard yet side-splitting view of The War Against Terrorism. RTE are recording this for broadcast but Des pulls no punches. Respect.

JEROME HOLLAND is first out of the traps with a good-‘ol-boy routine that draws on his Cork background. His take on the brassiere phenomenum is too funny, and convoluted to be outlined here but you’re in for a treat if you see him live. SHEILA M is an old Hoot Press fave. Tonight she plays it slightly safe though the ladies in the audience particularly appreciate her observations on the male of what she doubts is actually the same species.

COLUM McDONNELL is a talented Northern Irish comedian who sadly lets a slow audience reaction to some of his earlier gags rattle his concentration, while likewise, PRISCILLA ROBINSON appears to mis-judge the crowd’s mood and perhaps takes too long over material that isn’t quite working in tonight’s setting.

EDDIE NAESSENS & DECLAN ROONEY are one of the few double acts playing the circuit and tonight is their night. Great impressions, topical material and a finale that literally brings the house down, they’ve set the standard for the following acts.

IAN HUNTER may well be one of the youngest performers on tonight’s bill and, unfortunately, it shows. Perhaps he was fazed by the previous set but he never really comes into his own and seems almost relieved as he leaves the stage, though to reasonable applause. Next, ANNE LILLIS airs some brand-new material and divulges the contents of her underwear drawer, but again, despite a warm audience reception, she may need to hone the new act slightly. Still, a brave occasion to try out new stuff…

NICK REVLAND’s faux-French act might have brought him victory on another evening, but it’s Jerome Holland and Naessens and Rooney who walk away with the laurels.

See for yourself what emerging Irish comics are up to as the five finalists compete for the grand prize on The Late Late Show on November 9th, when the judging panel will include Billy McGrath, D’Unbelievables’ Pat Short and Rosealeen Linehan, with further comedy

legends tbc.