Galway Comedy Festival is bursting at the seams with comedy brilliance, all part of a 70-strong line-up of international stars, homegrown comedy greats, and emerging talent, playing 69 shows across 16 venues over 7 days and nights. You’d best start planning your week of ‘carefully curated craic’.

Barry Murphy
Barry Murphy is, simply, a living legend of Irish comedy. Alongside Ardal O’Hanlon and Kevin Gildea, he co-founded The International Comedy Club in Dublin, a key breeding ground for the Irish alternative-comedy boom of the 1990s, the repercussions of which are still felt today. He was also one-third of Aprés Match where his turns as Frank Stapleton and Liam Brady were nothing short of inspired, while his German character, Günther, is a brilliant means through which we can laugh at the absurdity of some of our own social norms in Ireland.

Porky the Poet
Alter ego of the phenomenal Phil Jupitus. In the early 80’s Jupitus could be found performing his own brand of political, funny, ranting poetry, in pubs, on street corners and supporting gigs.

In his own words “I thought it looked easy, I was very cheap. If you got another band to support you… me—I just turned up and read poems.”

Always a thought provoking performer, not to be missed.

Aaron Berg
Aaron performs stand-up every single night in New York City and remarkably, no two sets are the same. Combining sharp wit, high energy, and an undeniable ability to bring every show to a crescendo of laughter, he packs in more punchlines per minute than most. This Toronto-born comic is best known for creating 25 Sets, his world record breaking documentary about stand-up comedy. He has also appeared in films such as The Kitchen with Melissa McCarthy and The Lookout with Joseph Gordon Levitt, Jeff Daniels and Isla Fisher. A phenomenon in NYC, you have to see him in Galway.

Sophia Wren
Sophia Wren has taken the Irish comedy scene by storm in just a couple of years. In 2024 she won ‘Show Me The Funny’, and was a finalist in Bray Comedy Festival’s ‘Best New Act’ competition, and the prestigious ‘So You Think You’re Funny’ competition in Edinburgh.

Karl Spain
There is no better MC in Ireland than Karl Spain, and often no better night of comedy than Galway Comedy Festival’s Late Night KARLnival! The show, where comedians perform their darker, edgier material – and you never know who will turn up on the night – in front of Galway’s hardcore comedy fans is both institution and unmissable event.

Karl has worked with some of the world’s greatest comedians, including a massive 2022 tour with Kevin Bridges. Over the last decade or so, he has often written for so many comedians, so you’ve been laughing at his jokes without even realising it!

DOORS: 22:30 | SHOW: 23:00 | Age 18+