Recession-era comedy gig to accept punts from punters

A comedy club in Slane is going back in time - by accepting Irish punts from gig-goers as admission.  Slane Laughs at Boyle's Pub in the village is offering admission to punt-ers who bring along old Irish notes. Comedian Alan Gernon, who is resident MC at the club, says it is a sign of the times we live in. "I've noticed people just don't have much disposable income for nights out. One regular lately joked that we'd be better of going back to punts, that he has a load of it at home. It got me thinking and now we will accept punt notes for admission. So, for example, as admission is €7 in, we'll accept an IR£10 note and give change in euro. We're hoping it might attract a new audience that never managed to convert the old currency. "But hopefully we can then convert them into regulars," he said. This follows the recent reintroduction of the peseta in a northern Spanish town in a bid to boost the local economy. More than 60 shops in Mugardos are accepting the old peseta again alongside the euro. Slane Laughs' first gig accepting dual currency is tomorrow (Thursday 7th April), starring Willa White from RTE's 'Savage Eye', hotly-tipped sketch group Foil, Arms & Hog, and Finchie Coveney. If the venture is successful, Gernon says it may be introduced in other clubs in which he is resident MC. These include Kells Laughs, which hosts its opening night on Friday 8th April in the Kelltic Bar. This gig is headlined by John Lynn, dubbed "the rising star of Irish comedy" by the Sunday Times. Tickets cost €10 and are available from the Kelltic Bar, Headfort Hotel, and E2 Music in Navan.