First Kells Comedy Festival to feature top funnymen

Kells will host its first Comedy Festival in February when the town will play host to some of the biggest international acts on the comedy circuit, including Des Bishop, Jason Byrne, Colin Murphy and Ardal O"Hanlon. This exciting new event for Kells was officially launched last Friday at Kells Heritage Centre with monks and warriors of old in attendance to highlight Kells"s rich historic past. Local comedian and festival committee member Fred Cooke said he was thrilled to be involved in such an exciting event. 'It is brilliant to see such high-class acts coming to our town along with new up-and-coming acts. I have being privileged enough to perform in other comedy festivals throughout Ireland and abroad, and strongly feel that it is important to establish a festival in Kells, without losing the town"s historical identity,' he said. The festival is a community event, with local businesspeople coming together to market a weekend of fun with top national comedians. While it will be Kells"s first time to host such an event, the line-up is so impressive that it is likely to become an annual affair. The town"s Headfort Arms Hotel will play host to the three largest events of the festival in its main Kenlis Suite. Ardal O"Hanlon (whose credits include 'Father Ted" and 'My Hero") will open the festival on Friday 27th February, and Kevin Gildea (Father Bigley in 'Father Ted") will provide support. Ticket price for this event is €20. Three headliner acts - Jason Byrne ('Anonymous"), Colin Murphy ('The Panel") and Andrew Stanley ('I Dare Ya") will come together at the Headfort Arms Hotel on the Saturday night, while Des Bishop will close the festival on Sunday 1st March, when he performs his new show, 'Unbéarlable." This show has already sold out a run of nights in the Cork Opera House, Dublin"s Vicar Street and throughout the country. Ticket price for this event is €25. Doors will open each night for the three main gigis at 9pm with the shows starting at 9.30pm. Meanwhile, Navan-born comedian Tommy Tiernan will have his play 'That"s Deep" staged in the Railway Bar on the Saturday evening at 6 pm. The play is co-written and performed by his sister and cousin, Niamh and Eleanor Tiernan. The Arches Bar will hold an open mike charity event, which will include professional acts and new acts who will share the stage in aid of the Our Lady"s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin, on the Sunday at 6pm. Tickets for these events are available at the reception in the Headfort Arms Hotel or by telephoning 0818 222 800.