Tickets selling fast for Gala Celebration of Kilkenny Cat Laughs, as it marks 30 years

Tickets are already close to selling out for the Gala Celebration of the Kilkenny Cat Laughs comedy festival, which celebrates 30 years this summer.

The gala lineup features Celya AB, Scott Bennett, Neil Delamere, Gearóid Farrelly, Chris Kent, Susie McCabe, Joanne McNally, Dara O'Briain, David O’Doherty, Karl Spain, Alison Spittle, Dan Tiernan and Shane Todd. This will be held in The Hub, Cillín Hill on Saturday, June 1. Tickets are available here.

There will also be two shows on sale in the Pembroke Hotel (both Friday and Saturday night) featuring this year’s newcomers to Kilkenny, both shows are hosted by Chris Kent and there will be a different lineup each night.

Comedians confirmed so far include Louise Young, Kuan-Wen Huang, Daniel Foxx, Kyrah Gray, Vlad Ilich, Alexandra Haddow, Marjolein Robertson, Paddy Young. They have all been handpicked by creative director Angela Squire, who is really excited about introducing fresh faces to Kilkenny.

For 30 years, Kilkenny’s Cat Laughs has heralded the start of the summer and the festival takes place in a series of venues in the city.

The Cat Laughs has built a reputation for presenting some of the finest Irish comedians together with international acts who Irish audiences will respond to.

In the past, comedians have included Graham Norton, Joanne McNally, Deirdre O’Kane, David O’Doherty, Adam Hills, Sarah Millican, Bill Bailey, Bill Burr, Eleanor Tiernan, George Wendt, Bill Murray and many others.

The festival is the original Irish comedy festival and is the fourth longest-running comedy festival in the world. It is known for its high standard of comedy but also for its relaxed, laid-back nature.