A GU ID E TO CO R K CO M E DY FR I
ANDREW BURKE DISCUSSES THE COMEDY SCENE IN CORK AND HOW YOU CAN EXPERIENCE AND BECOME A PART OF IT
C
ork has become one of the best places in the country for entertainment. Everywhere you look, you will see theatre performances, music gigs and, now more than ever, comedy shows. We have great talent from Cork, such as Desmond Bishop, Chris Kent, Ross Browne, CCCahoots, Lords of Strut, Richy Sheehy, Langer Laughs and more. So, here is a guide to the comedy scene right here in Cork.
M ON On Mondays you have the Coco Comedy Club open mic night, which takes place upstairs in the Roundy. If you are itching to do some stand-up comedy, this is the place for you. This is where a lot of Cork’s great talent started off.
SAT / SUN
TUE On Tuesdays, you have the Comedy Cavern, located in the back of Coughlan’s Bar, which hosts weekly gigs and monthly open mics. Anyone can go on stage and try out materiThey are also having a comedy festival with some amazing acts in early November - check out the entertainment edit for more information.
W ED On Wednesdays, you have the Coco again with its professional show, featuring at least one comedian who has been entertaining audiences at Monday’s open mics, and a special headline act every week. It is a guaranteed good time.
THU On Thursdays, you have the newest club on the scene, McCronins Comedy Club, located upstairs in Cashman’s Bar. This is where comedians who have been doing well on the scene and want to work on material can try out 10 minute sets. It is the most underrated club in Cork and a hidden gem.
Friday nights are special nights in Cork city, because you have two clubs to choose from. You have the longest club running in Cork, City Limits, located in the City Limits Comedy Club, which is the only dedicated building in Cork for comedy. You also have The Wonky Donkey, located in the Cellar Theatre as part of the Mardyke Entertainment Complex. Both are considered to be the premium clubs in Cork and are regarded as two of the best clubs in the entire country. Fridays feature the best acts from not just Cork, and not just from all around Ireland, but from the UK as well.
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On Saturdays you have City Limits again and even on Sunday nights you can go to the open mic in The Friary. There is a way to experience comedy every night of the week. All of these clubs open at 8:30pm and every club is free entry, running on donations given at the end of each show to keep them going. The exceptions to this are City Limits and The Wonky Donkey, which typically charge about €14 per ticket, but you absolutely get what you pay for with the quality acts and atmosphere.
If you are a lover of comedy and just want to laugh, any of these nights will satisfy your funny bone. But, if you want to try out stand-up comedy yourself, now is the best time to get into it. Start off at the Coco Club and the Comedy Cavern. Show up with friends for support, have 5 minutes of material prepared and go from there. The important thing is to keep coming back and to not be afraid to return with the same material as the week before. It is all about getting a good 5 minutes and then refining it. Once you keep doing well at the open mics in the Coco, you could be asked to do a 7 minute gig on Wednesday for the professional show. Once you get a good 7 minutes, you could ask for a gig at McCronins and get a good 10 minutes of material. Keep doing well and you could be asked to do a gig at The Wonky Donkey, and from there, you could go anywhere. For an exclusive online interview with two of Cork’s biggest comedy club owners, head over to Motley.ie.
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