The Irish have long been known for their charming humour and cutting wit. So, here are five Irish comedians you can’t miss.
Throughout history, the Irish have garnered a global reputation as the world’s best comedians.
From iconic satirists, such as Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde, to modern comedians, we have quite the penchant for making people laugh.
So, if you’re looking for something to raise your spirits and make your belly hurt with laughter, read on. Today, we are ranking the top five best Irish comedians you can’t miss.
5. Graham Norton – a much-loved Irish comedian
When it comes to Irish comedians you can’t miss, everyone’s favourite Irish actor, author, comedian, commentator, and presenter Graham Norton has to make the cut.
Born in Clondalkin, County Dublin, Norton boasts an impressive career across Ireland and the UK. His ever-popular self-titled talk show, The Graham Norton Show, draws in countless viewers each week.
Norton has won an impressive five BAFTAs for his talk show, and that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of his incredible career.
His career began in 1992 when he appeared in comedy drag as Mother Teresa of Calcutta at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Since then, he has gone on to present on radio, write books, and even enjoy a cameo on Father Ted.
4. Tommy Tiernan – one of Ireland’s funniest
Next up on our list of brilliant Irish comedians is County Donegal-born Tommy Tiernan.
Best known in Ireland as the host of his self-titled chat show, The Tommy Tiernan Show, Tiernan has enjoyed an incredibly successful career in stand-up and television. Similar to Graham Norton, Tiernan also acted in a cameo on Father Ted.
Most recently, Tieran gained international acclaim as Da Gerry in Derry Girls, starring opposite Tara Lynne O’Neill and Ian McElhinney.
3. Patrick Kielty – a funny man from the north
If there was an online casino where you could bet on which Irish comedians would make the funniest jokes, we are certain Patrick Kielty would be in the running.
Born in the County Down, Kielty is one of the most well-known Northern Irish comedians on the current UK comedy scene.
Kielty’s professional career began while he was at Queen’s University in Belfast. Since then, Kielty has gone on to perform in several successful stand-up shows, star in popular panel shows, and present on TV shows, such as This Morning and The One Show.
With such an incredible career that continues to grow from strength to strength, Patrick Kielty is undoubtedly one of the best Irish comedians you can’t miss.
2. Dara Ó Briain – one of Ireland’s smartest comedians
Mathematics and theoretical physics might not be the degree you expect one of Ireland’s best comedians to have studied at university. However, that’s exactly what Dara Ó Briain did, and he has used it to his advantage in his brilliant comedy career.
Hailing from Bray in County Wicklow, Ó Briain’s rise to stardom began when he graduated from university in 1994. At this point, he was already performing stand-up gigs on the Irish comedy circuit.
Within a few years, Ó Briain’s stand-up career began to take off on the global comedy scene, performing across Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America.
Since then, he has appeared on and hosted various panel shows on the BBC and RTÉ and has also undertaken several sell-out comedy tours.
1. Aisling Bea – the funniest woman in Ireland
Topping our list of hilarious Irish comedians you can’t miss is Ireland’s funniest woman, Aisling Bea.
Born Aisling Clíodhnadh O’Sullivan in County Kildare, Bea boasts one of the most incredible careers of any Irish comedian.
Her career began in 2012, with parts in comedy television series, such as Cardinal Burns and Dead Boss. She quickly began to gain recognition, winning various awards, including Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards.
Since then, she has appeared in popular comedy panel shows, such as QI and 8 Out of 10 Cats. She has also continued to appear in TV sitcoms in Ireland, the UK, and the USA.
Some of her most popular appearances have included her role as Kate Elliot in Netflix’s Living with Yourself and Áine in This Way Up.
