As Body & Soul swiftly approaches so do those soggy Irish Summer Festival vibes. It looks like it’s going to be a wet one, so why not take a break to dry off and go see some excellent comedy instead? The Vodafone Comedy Tent has nothing but endless hours of top-notch Irish acts to offer. Here are the 5 must-see comedians playing the festival.

1) The Alison Spittle Show

Between gigging across Ireland, writing her own sitcom for RTÉ and hosting a podcast, Alison Spittle is a very busy woman. A shining presence in the Irish comedy scene, Spittle’s chatty, off-handish sense of humour has earned her double Tiger Dublin Fringe award nominations and a sell-out run at First Fortnight. A mixture of songs, satire and silliness, Spittle’s podcast ‘The Alison Spittle Show’ has included interviews with everyone from George Hook to Mattress Mick. If you haven’t heard an episode of the podcast then go have a listen, I’ll wait…

Back?

An irreverent chat show inspired by the questions you’ll never hear on the The Late Late Show, the live recording of the podcast (with a Body & Soul twist) is definitely not to be missed.

Check out Alison Spittle on Twitter: @AlisonSpittle

2) Hannah Mamalis’ Comedy Brunch

Triple threat Hannah Mamalis is a comedian, writer and actress who wants to take YOU for brunch. Well, she’ll bring the comedy, you bring the brunch. If the reviews of her previous shows are anything to go by (having been described as ‘disarming, creative and hilariously weird’) then this comedy brunch promises to be a delight.

Join her and her super special top-secret guest for a half hour of comedy, chats and storytelling that combines twisted tales of juvenilia with dark and humorous musings on the odd and obscure within the lives we all lead. With bog birthdays, wasp faces and the enduring sexual power of Keanu Reeves, it looks like this show could be almost as fantastic as the word brunch. 

Check out Hannah Mamalis on Twitter: @Hantman

3) Andrea Farrell

Comedian Andréa Farrell’s  laconic style and irreverent stage presence are a breath of fresh air to Dublin audiences. A bright spark in Irish comedy, she quickly made an impact as a finalist in the RTÉ New Comedy Awards, and recently broke new ground by taking a camper van around Ireland with her chums The Lads of Comedy, bringing their anarchic ‘supergroup’ approach to stages across the land.

With several festival slots from Kilkenny Cat Laughs to the Edinburgh Comedy Festival and a number of opening gigs for comedy heavyweights like Bill Burr and Marc Maron under her belt, Andréa’s comedy is guaranteed to have the audience in fits of laughter.

Check out Andrea Farrell on Twitter: @anerdabags

4) Gearóid Farrelly

Polished live performer Gearóid Farelly is a regular at Irish Festivals, including Vodafone Comedy Festival, Kilkenny Cat Laughs and Electric Picnic. Farrelly’s witty, sharp comedy keeps audiences on their toes. His comedy career got off to a flying start in 2008, when in the space of a few short weeks he was a finalist in the prestigious So You Think You’re Funny? competition at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the winner of the Bulmer’s Nuthin Butt Funny Newcomer competition at the Bulmers Festival in Dublin. He has been a regular touring support to some of comedy’s top names, including the late Joan Rivers.

Keeping the Joan Rivers seal of approval in mind, Gearóid is an absolute must-see for festival go-ers.

Check out Gearóid Farrelly on Twitter: @gearoidfarrelly

5) David O’Doherty

David O’Doherty is an award-winning comedian, author and musician, and all around ledge-bag. David’s form of musical comedy and dead-pan humour is like nothing else on the Irish comedy scene. First nominated for best newcomer in 2000, David went on to win the main Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2008. His TV appearances include everything from appearing as a panellist on 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown and QI to hosting Never Mind The Buzzcocks. David has performed around the world at festivals in Melbourne, Montreal, New York, Prague, Adelaide, Iceland and Wellington.

With his vast array of awards and TV appearances under his belt, as well as a great taste in hats/keyboard combos, O’Doherty’s gig promises to be one of the highlights of this years comedy line-up.

Check out David O’Doherty on Twitter: @phlaimeaux

Body & Soul 2017 takes place June 23-25. For more info on the festival visit: http://bodyandsoul.ie

Check out the full Body & Soul comedy line-up here: http://bodyandsoul.ie/project/vodafone-comedy-tent-2/