This comedy lark really is a chummy business! It seems that two of Galway’s finest comedy venues have come to an agreement about how to maximise the entertainment in the Tribal city. Though previously going up against it in a Sunday night head-to-head that had comedy promoters engaging in Sopranos-like turf-battles, GPO’s PETER MURPHY and Cuba’s GERRY MALLON have averted going to the mattress as GPO’s Laughter Lounge move their comedy offering to Wednesday nights from February. The calibre of acts will remain as strong as ever in both camps however, with The Blizzard of Odd’s COLIN MURPHY and PHIL KAY playing at Cuba this month, and the US/Amsterdam improv group BOOM CHICAGO and top US stand-up TOM RHODES visiting the GPO. See What’s On Comedy Listings for dates.

BRENDAN BURKE has branched out into the promotions game and is hosting a series of comedy gigs in Gibney’s of Malahide on Friday evenings. So far this month DEIRDRE O’KANE and KEVIN GILDEA have taken a walk on the Northside. Incidentally, when visiting Gibney’s get there early as they give out free sausages at tea-time which are really yummy. Laughlines is paid to know these things…

Great to see DERMOT CARMODY bringing the house down at a recent Thursday night performance in the International Bar when he delivered some brand new material from his new project. The amusing muso is currently writing the new as-yet-untitled show which will go on to development in lunchtime theatre in Dublin before transferring to Edinburgh. Something to do with Dragonflys, apparently. At the ‘Cellar recently was EDDIE BANNON who was seen observing DONAL NORTON’s set while wearing an expression that Collin’s English Dictionary defines as ‘perplexed’.

Tune in to Hoot Press next issue when MICHAEL MEE brings us a report on the recent Irish Comedy Festival in the USA which saw DES BISHOP, DAVE O’DOHERTY, JASON BYRNE, DARA O’BRIAIN and COLIN MURPHY play a series of dates in New York and Boston.

Radio comedy fans could do worse than tune in to Henderson’s History of the World which airs on RTE Radio 1 on Saturdays at 11.30am. The show features Jason Byrne sidekick JOHN HENDERSON assisted by some of Irish comedy’s brightest lights performing a variety of skits and sketches that call to mind the heyday of a certain Mr. Python’s Flying Circus. Praise indeed…

Following on from last issue’s interview with THE COMEDY IMPROV TEAM, the guys inform me that they’re heading down-under this Summer to play at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and the Adelaide Arts Festival. See, that’s what a mention in these pages’ll do for ya!

Laughlines extends best wishes to The Comedy Room’s EDDIE NAESSENS who’s been suffering from a recurring ear problem of late. Naessens continues to play at the Ha’penny Inn every Wednesday; which must be his acting training showing through. The show must go on!