Kells Comedy Festival promises a barrel of laughs as many of Ireland"s finest comedians hit the town

It will be laughter all the way in Kells this weekend when some of the biggest international acts on the comedy circuit will perform at the first ever Kells Comedy Festival. Des Bishop, Jason Byrne, Colin Murphy and Ardal O"Hanlon are some of the top names who will perform during the festival. The town"s Headfort Arms Hotel will play host to the three largest events in its main Kenlis Suite with Ardal O"Hanlon opening the festival on Friday night with Kevin Gildea ('Father Bigley" in 'Father Ted") providing support. Ardal O"Halon"s participation in the Kells festival is a major coup as he will also be involved in the Fr Ted Festival on Inis Mór island over the weekend. The Kells gig comes on the eve of the late Dermot Morgan"s anniversary. Three headliner acts - Jason Byrne ('Anonymous"), Colin Murphy ('The Panel") and Andrew Stanley ('I Dare Ya") - will come together at the Headfort Arms on the Saturday night, while Des Bishop will close the festival on Sunday night 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, but it will be the first time he has performed this particular show in Kells. Doors will open each night for the three main gigs 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 Saturday evening at 6pm. The play is co-written and performed by his sister and cousin, Niamh and Eleanor Tiernan. The Arches Bar will hold an open mic charity event, which will include professional acts and new acts who will share the stage in aid of Our Lady"s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin, on Sunday at 6pm. The festival is a community event, with local businesspeople coming together to market a weekend of fun with top national comedians. The Kells event is likely to become an annual affair. Tickets for the various events are available at reception in the Headfort Arms Hotel or by calling 0818 222 800. Local comedian and festival committee member, Fred Cooke, said he is thrilled to be involved in such an exciting event and to see such high-class acts coming to the town, along with new up-and-coming acts.