This year's Vodafone Comedy Carnival is running from Tuesday, October 22nd to Monday, October 28th across Galway, with huge amounts of comedy acts to choose from.

There's John Bishop, Bill Bailey, Reginald D. Hunter, Rich Hall, Jayde Adams, Jo Caulfield, The 2 Johnnies, not to mention the likes of Kevin Gildea, Andrew Maxwell, Ross Noble, Jason Byrne, Joe Rooney, Ruth Hurl, Amy Walsh and loads more besides.

With that in mind, we've whittled it down to five acts you need to check out.

 

JO CAULFIELD

Sunday, October 27th, 19.30 at Roisin Dubh

Whether you’ve seen her on TV shows such as 'Have I Got News For You' or 'Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow', heard her on the radio on 'Just a Minute' or 'Stop The Press', or caught her live at one of her award-winning Edinburgh Festival shows, the chances are you’re already familiar with Jo’s work. Described by The Observer as "one of the finest female comics at work", Jo can regularly be seen headlining the UK’s biggest and best comedy clubs.

 

BILL BAILEY

Saturday, October 26th, 19.00 at Leisureland

Bailey's new show, Larks In Transit, is a compendium of travellers’ tales and the general shenanigans of twenty years as a travelling comedian. With musical virtuosity, surreal tangents and trademark intelligence, Bill Bailey tackles politics, philosophy and the pursuit of happiness. Plus, he fashions a symphony from a ringtone, tells the real story of Old MacDonald and re-imagines the Stars and Stripes. Two decades of touring larks from a comic described by The Telegraph as "the brainiest comic of his generation."

 

JAYDE ADAMS

Friday, October 25th, 19.30 at Comedy Village, Eyre Square

Award-winning comedian, Jayde Adams is an uncut gem, a force of nature, dangerous and unafraid, the future. It’s safe to say that when Dawn French says “Jayde Adams is the 3rd funniest woman in the world. Fact,” she might just be onto something.

 

JOE ROONEY

Saturday, October 26th, 22.00 at Town Hall Theatre

A stalwart of the Irish comedy scene, Joe Rooney’s energetic mixture of stand-up and musical comedy has long proved a hit with all ages and nationalities. Joe is also a successful actor best known for his roles as Father Damo in 'Father Ted' and Timmy in the long running RTE sitcom 'Killinaskully'. Joe recorded ‘The Rockier Road To Poland’ with Shane MacGowan, and performed a five week run in the Gaiety in John B Keane’s 'The Chastitute'.

 

JOHN BISHOP

Tuesday, October 22nd, 19.00 at Leisureland

The Liverpudlian legend is on his way back to Galway for a Work in Progress show. Cheeky, charming and oozing natural talent, John Bishop is a true comedy superstar. This is a rare opportunity to catch John in a venue smaller than a football stadium. John’s first TV appearance was way back in 2007 on RTE’s 'The Panel' which led to '8 out of 10 cats', 'Live at the Apollo', 'Mock the Week', 'Have I Got News For You' and of course, 'The John Bishop Show'.

 

For more information, check out Vodafone Galway Comedy Carnival.