Kilkenny’s very first MAYhem festival is in full swing!

MAYhem -  ‘The Road to Cat Laughs’ sees an unprecedented 30 shows take place over 28 nights in the Marble City, with comedy every single night for the month of May.

It also offers a unique opportunity to catch some of the biggest names in comedy strut their stuff in the most intimate of spaces. 

READ MORE: Kilkenny artists feature in new exhibition at Glass Attic Gallery in Jerpoint

So far MAYhem has seen a string of packed-out shows, with the likes of Brennan Reece, Barry Murphy, David O’Doherty, Josh Jones, Evaldas Karosas, Sinéad Culbert and Hannah Platt taking to the stage at some of Kilkenny’s finest venues, including Billy Byrne’s, Cleere’s, The Pembroke Hotel, The Hole in the Wall and The Home Rule Club.

This week on Wednesday (May 13) Susie McCabe and Dan Tiernan will perform in a double-bill at Billy Byrne’s. 

Susie, a much-loved feature of Cat Laughs and winner of the Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow award, continues to be one of the fastest selling acts at the Glasgow international comedy festival, with multiple Scottish comedy awards under her belt for Best Headliner and Best Show which she collected for her Solo show Domestic Disaster. Manchester native Dan Tiernan is one of Britain’s finest young comedians. Having blazed a trail since his debut at 21, Dan has a string of prestigious awards under his belt, including the BBC new comedy award and British Comedian of the Year in 2022. This show starts at 7.30pm.

Dan returns on Thursday, May 14 for a solo show at 7.30pm the beautifully intimate Cleere’s Theatre. 

An undisputed world-class comedian; Dan has been nominated for Best Edinburgh Newcomer, Best Edinburgh Show, was a New Face at Montreal Just for Laughs and Most Outstanding Show at Melbourne Comedy Festival. 

An All-Star lineup features on Friday, May 15 at The Pembroke hotel, with Chris Kent, Ger Staunton, Laura Lexx, Alana Jackson and Kevin Gildea sharing the stage for the first five-piece lineup of the festival. Tickets are €22 and available now. Show starts at 8pm. 

On Saturday, May 16, Kevin, Ger, Laura and Alana are set to keep the ship sailing at the rate of knots into high seas or perhaps muddy waters? Show starts at 8pm. 

Laura Lexx is a multi-award winning comedian, writer, and actor, known for her sharp wit, intelligent humour, and commanding stage presence. She is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading top MCs and headliners while Alana Jackson is a Glasgow-born stand-up comedian and actor who has rapidly ascended the UK comedy circuit. Known for her relatable observational humor and impressive character work, she gained major recognition as the winner of the prestigious So You Think You're Funny? competition in 2024

On Sunday May 17, Laura and Alana will be joined by Morgan Rees at Billy Byrne’s. 

Morgan Rees is a Welsh stand-up comedian, writer, and actor from Merthyr Tydfil who has become a prominent voice on the UK comedy circuit. A mathematics graduate and former data scientist for IBM, he transitioned to comedy in his 20s and is now celebrated for his sharp one-liners and "densely packed" storytelling style.  Show starts at 7.30pm. 

The moveable feast continues on Monday, May 18 as Morgan is joined by Kim Blythe at Cleere’s. Kim Blythe is a Scottish stand-up comedian and content creator from Glasgow who has successfully transitioned from viral TikTok fame to the live comedy stage. Known for her relatable observational humor and "warmly daft" persona, she is considered one of the most exciting rising stars on the UK comedy circuit. 

*Don’t forget there’s a FREE DRINK for every ticket-holder for Sun-Wed shows!