WE ARE pleased to report that following the second anniversary of the Murphy’s Corduroy Comedy Club (The Norseman, Temple Bar, Thursday nights), resident compere John Henderson has decided to move upstairs (metaphorically speaking, of course – the Club is already upstairs) in order to oversee Corduroy affairs from his new position as Director of Comedy. At an official press conference called to announce his decision, Henderson had this to say: “This is the most difficult decision I have ever had to make. Unfortunately, I have committed the cardinal sin of becoming emotionally involved with the Corduroy Comedy Club and have therefore decided to ‘move upstairs’ and become technical advisor. While some may view this as a cowardly action on my part, it is one I have laboured over at length and would like to think that my new position will grant me a level of detachment which will afford me the opportunity to get in early doors and give the job no end of welly. It will also give me the opportunity to devote more of my time to the important things in life . . . like my PlayStation.”

John’s first official function has been to open a Corduroy Comedy Club (mark II), in The Purty Loft, Dun Laoghaire, which is set to run and run every Sunday night from August to Armageddon. Anyone wishing to arrange corporate bookings, conferences, funerals or open-spots for either The Norseman or the Purty Loft should ring Buzz O’Neill at 01-6602096.

The Laughter Lounge plays host to a glittering array of international and domestic talent in the coming weeks, with the very (a)live and loud Steve Gribben being lured back to the Emerald Isle due to popular demand, following his previous sell-out shows in the Eden Quay laughter paradise (??? — Comedy Ed.) Arnold Brown (a former accountant but funny nonetheless), Patrick “Fogie favourite Eoin McLove on Father Ted” McDonnell and Eddie “Just back after upstaging Lenny Henry on his British tour, thank you very much!” Bannon join the cheeky monkey Gribben on Thurs 23rd/24th/25th July. Jason Byrne goes Camping On The Moon on Sun 26th July, for his last Irish performance before October.

The following week (Thurs 30th/Fri 31st/Sat 1st) sees Nick Wilty, Dermot Carmody, Dara O Briain and Phil Nichol take the stage. Nichol, a founder member of famed comedy troupe Corky And The Juicepigs is displaying considerable bravery in returning to Ireland, having been marched off stage in a headlock by an irate punter in the middle of one of his shows during last year’s inaugural Murphy’s Ungagged. Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough!

The resistance to alcohol has been built up, the venues, flights and flats have been booked, the publicity shots have been posed for, the posters and flyers have been printed – and now the only thing left for the sizeable contingent of Irish comedians who are Edinburgh-bound this August to do, is to ensconce themselves in their garrets and write the mirth-inducing masterpieces which they hope will earn them no end of cash, rave reviews, sordid one-night stands and chat shows on Channel 4. Among those making the annual pilgrimage to the world’s biggest Fringe Festival (with the possible exception of a Juniper residency in the Mean Fiddler) are Ian Coppinger, Colin Murphy and Bob Reilly (Young Gifted & Green); Dara O Briain and John Henderson (Full Irish Breakfast); Paddy Courtney, Deirdre O’Kane, Jonathan Gunning, Michael Mee and Brendan Dempsey (Just For The Craic); Eddie Bannon and (American) Rich Fulcher (Mr Ed and the Fulcher) and The Nualas.

Barry Murphy (Geyser Of Guff), Kevin Gildea, Tommy Tiernan (Un-Divine Comedy), Jason Byrne (Camping On The Moon), Ed Byrne, Smiley, Dylan Moran, Martin Bigpig and Kevin Hayes will be among those performing one-man shows in the Scottish Capital, which makes them eligible for the Perrier – the prestigious bottled mineral water award which nobody (except self-confessed media slut Ed Byrne) admits to being interested in winning . . . until they do. May the road – and their bank balances and profiles – rise with them!