Forget the Queen’s visit... next week Dublin welcomes proper comedy royalty – the one and only Peter Kay. The creator and star of Phoenix Nights will take to the O2 stage for a none-too-shabby six consecutive performances.

Kay has been breaking records left, right and centre with this mammoth tour. He is the only British artist to ever play twenty consecutive sold-out nights in an arena, and with over one million tickets sold in more than one hundred venues, this is now officially the biggest stand-up comedy tour in the world. If you’re one of the lucky ones who managed to get their sticky mitts on a ticket, Kay will perform live on April 28, 29, 30 and May 1, 2 and 3 in the O2. And as if there was another reason to catch this highly-anticipated show, all proceeds are going to Irish Autism Action. For those of you who didn’t nab a Kay tic, worry not, there are plenty of other comedy events taking place around the country this fortnight.
Following the recent death of his dad Mike, Des Bishop rescheduled the dates for his My Dad Was Nearly James Bond show. This touching tribute, which sees Des shed some light on Mike’s early career as an actor, comes to Dublin’s Pavilion Theatre (April 21 & 22), then to Mayo’s TF Royal Theatre (24) and finally to Vicar St., Dublin (28).
Next up, it’s not so much sentimental as downright vulgar – yep, say a great big howya to Mrs Brown! Brendan O’Carroll’s Good Mourning Mrs Brown follows on from the original show, Mrs Brown’s Boys, which saw the Dublin comic don a wig, a cardie, a box of Major and a foul mouth to play the famed Dublin Mammy of the title. This show sees Mrs Brown organise Grandad Brown’s funeral – not because he’s dead, mind. The poor pet feels unloved by the family and wants to know how people will remember him after he’s passed. Cue lots of hilarious X-rated one-liners from Dublin’s favourite ‘aul one! Catch the show at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre from April 25 - 30, May 2 – 7 and 9 – 14.
Also this fortnight, comedian Jarlath Regan launches his new book Putting A Ring On It in Dublin’s Sugar Club on April 21. The star of The Panel offers some helpful – and some not-so-helpful – advice to those of you in the dramatic throes of planning a wedding. Written and illutrated by Regan (he was a graphic designer before he got the comic call, dontcha know), it covers everything from bridezillas to drunken uncles, and is a must for anyone feeling stressed about the big day.
Staying in Dublin, the Sycamore Club welcomes Magic George Quinn, David Duff, Ruaidhrí Ward, George Fox and MC Danny O’Brien to Temple Bar on April 29. One for the poverty-stricken among you, a ticket to the event grants you access to the penthouse roof party afterwards. Wa-hey!
Elsewhere this fortnight, Give My Head Peace! Live, a satirical look at life in Northern Ireland, continues its run with shows in the Grand Opera House, Belfast (April 18 – 21) and the Millennium Forum, Derry (April 24). D’Unbeliveables, aka Limerick duo Jon Kenny and Pat Shortt will be at Dublin’s Vicar St. (18 – 21), while musical comedy Nunsense plays in Waterford’s Theatre Royal (May 3 – 7).