After a hugely successful debut last year, CroíACT returns to Galway Comedy Festival 2025 as eight Galwegians get set to bravely make their comedy debuts and take to the stage in the name of comedy (and craic!). Find out more here...
CroíACT (pronounced “Craic’d”) is a unique fundraiser, combining laughter and heart with community spirit. Taking place on Wednesday 22nd of October in the Town Hall Theatre, it gives local untapped comedy talents a chance to shine on stage, while also raising funds for Galway charities Croí and ACT for Meningitis.
Hosted by the great Karl Spain, the line-up is: Eveanna Ryan (My safe word is “TripAdvisor”), Shane Lennon (Bebo and MySpace influencer), Ger Howard (A quiet man with a sharp wit, ready to let the laughter do the talking!), Vinny O’Brien (From steak sandwiches to the stage, let’s get pepper saucy!), Marian O’Callaghan (Originally from North London. Mother of cats and boys), Lisa Traynor (Louder than a trad session after midnight, funnier than your uncle at a wedding), PJ Commins (I’m PJ, FFS… Fifty, Fabulous & Sexy), and Ronan Coleman (Challenging Times Semi-Finalist 1994).
CroíACT is the coming together of the charity sector in the City and Galway Comedy Festival. The show debuted at last year’s GCF, raising €20,000 in total for Croí and ACT for Meningitis, with each charity receiving €10,000.
For Mike Cubbard, the Fundraising and Community Events Coordinator at Croí, and a city councillor and Mayor of Galway, the goal in 2025 is to at least equal that again.
"It will hopefully bring in €10,000 each again, which would be a massive, massive intake for both charities," says Mike. "That’s what we're targeting again this year and that can only happen by selling all seats in the room."
Fundraising events like this are vital for both charities, which, despite the valuable work they do, receive no Government funding.
"Croí and ACT for Meningitis are two charities born out of Galway that don't receive State funding," he says. "Most of the funding our charities receive is from events such as this or through donations or philanthropy."
Since joining Crói, Mike had ambitions to run comedy nights as a fresh and exciting way to raise funds. He approached ACT CEO, Siobhan Carroll, with an idea to collaborate, and from there, both charities reached out to Galway Comedy Festival’s Director, Kevin Healy. The result was CroíACT.
"Galway Comedy Festival is the biggest comedy festival in the country," says Mike. "They have comedians coming in who are world names, but it’s never forgotten its roots. We’ve received every support possible from Kevin Healy and Niall Horisk at the Festival. The fact they still have time to engage with the grassroots and local charities, and to keep a space in the programme for Croí and ACT that they could have filled with an international name is commendable and I thank them for that."
As well as hosting the show, comedian Karl Spain is also mentoring the eight performers. Mike is also full of praise for Karl’s dedication and commitment to making sure CroíACT is a success.
"We use the Croí building in Newcastle as a rehearsal space," says Mike. "Karl sits down with the performers and asks, ‘Tell me why you got picked?’ Usually they say, ‘Oh, Mike told me I had to do this’, but Karl goes under the bonnet a bit, asks them why, and asks if they have told a funny story before, and then works with them on how to make it into stand-up routine, how to pitch it, where the punchlines are, but the eight performers are telling their own real life stories on stage."
Mike is hoping the show will be a sell-out success, and he is encouraging the people of Galway to come and enjoy the night.
"If you know the performers, if they’re a friend or family member, come and support them," he says. "If you don't know them, just as a Galwegian who would know Croí and ACT and support the services we do, come along. All the funding goes back into both charities so we can continue to provide the services we do. Let's get this to be one of the first big sold-out events of Galway Comedy Festival."
Tickets for CroíACT are available via www.GalwayComedyFestival.ie.
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