Funny Irish Women
Funny, fierce females. Ireland really punches above its weight when it comes to women in comedy. From riotous stand-ups, to stars of stage and screen, we’ve got an abundance of truly funny Irish women to be proud of. Niamh O’Reilly gives us a taster of some of the very best, who consistency make us laugh.
Maureen Potter
Where else could this list start than with the late, great Maureen Potter? The definition of a legend, if ever there was one, this multi-talented woman’s career started in childhood and went on to span 70 years.
As a child, during the 1930s, she toured Britain doing a raft of impersonations and variety shows and even performed in front of Adolf Hitler in Berlin. As well as being Ireland’s original female comedian, she also took on a host of straight roles treading the boards in plays from the likes of Beckett, O’Casey and Shaw. Her handprints are forever immortalised outside the Gaiety Theatre where so many people enjoyed her performances in pantomimes over the years and while they may be small in size, their mark on the Irish entertainment world is huge.
Beloved and humble to the end, on the surprise Late, Late Show tribute to her in
1976, Gay Byrne brought her out on the set to a rapturous audience. Visibly shocked and wiping the tears from her eyes, she laughed; “ now I know why I’m in the dress… the wardrobe, they wouldn’t let me wear me suit”.
Sharon Horgan
Multi-award-winning Sharon Horgan is a woman in serious demand. From starring alongside Hollywood names such as Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams in the madcap comedy Game Night, to Kristin Scott Thomas in British comedy film Military Wives, she’s one of our most successful and talented comedy writers.
Her forthright, quick witted and clever writing have become synonyms with her projects. “I wouldn’t want to have sex with me. I’m just a cow in a dressing gown,” she tells her on-screen partner Rob Delany in the hit Channel 4 series Catastrophe, which became her breakthrough. The show which she co-wrote with Delaney won a host of accolades from BAFTAS to IFTAS, as well being nominated for an Emmy and led to her writing other hit shows, the most notable being HBO’s Divorce starring Sarah Jessica Parker.
Sharon was born in London in 1970 to Irish parents and later moved to Ireland when she was four and it seems greatness runs in the family. Her younger brother Shane was a former Irish International Rugby player, while her youngest brother Mark is behind the successful podcasts Second Captains and the acclaimed, Where is George Gibney?. Not content with all her accolades so far, Sharon’s also began producing and directing multiple projects for the big and small screen including producing two seasons of This Way is Up, written by her real-life friend and on-screen sister Aisling Bea, who is herself an entry on this list.
Deirdre O’Kane
One of the funniest women in Irish comedy has, without a doubt, got to be Deirdre O’Kane. Her dry wit cannot help but elicit a giggle out of even the most stoic of faces.
She’s been consistently knocking it out of the park for years and has become synonymous with not only leading Irish comedy, but crucially supporting the next generation of up-and-coming Irish comics.
Her recent Sky production, The Deirdre O’Kane Show, saw her champion Irish female comedians such as Joanne McNally, Emma Doran and Catherine Bohart. She also spearheaded Comic Relief in Ireland which has so far raised millions of euro for charity. Deirdre was born in Drogheda in Co Louth and started out in the tough world of stand-up in the mid-90s and did the rounds of festivals like Edinburgh, Melbourne and Kilkenny. She made her way into the acting world and had a major breakthrough performance in RTE One’s Fergus’s Wedding in 2001.
More recently she gave a hilarious turn as Debra Moone in Sky One’s Moone Boy, written by and loosely based on the lifeof Chris O’Dowd growing up in Boyle in Co Roscommon.
Deirdre has also made waves into straight roles too, most notably in 2003’s Intermission and as children’s campaigner Christina Nobel in the 2014 biopic, Noble. Not content with comedy and acting, she’s also appeared on RTE’s Dancing with the Stars and even became a judge on Irish talent show The Big Deal alongside Boy George, Jedward, Lyra, and Aston Merrygold.
Marian Keyes
Hands up if you’ve ever laughed out loud at a Marian Keyes novel? Ah yes, a sea of hands that’s what we thought. I’ll never forget reading a slightly tatty and well-thumbed copy of Rachel’s Holiday for the first time in sixth year in the library and nearly giving the librarian a heart attack, when I cackled uncontrollably at the top of my voice at one of the book's many hilarious lines.
Like most people, I was hooked on this unique style of writing that spoke to me in a way no book had ever done so before.
It felt very grown up.
Marian’s been banging out internationally loved bestsellers for over 20 years and is one of this country’s funniest and most successful writers. Her uncanny ability to tackle dark subject matters in a funny way, while accurately portraying the lives of modern women, have earned her a loyal following all over the world.
Born in Limerick in 1963, Marian went to UCD where she studied Law. She never envisioned becoming a writer, even though storytelling was a big part of the fabric of her large family.
Marian’s first novel Watermelon was published in 1995 and so began her incredible writing career. Over the years she’s bravely and frankly spoken about her struggles with depression, and in doing so has helped to spark important conversations around mental health.
During the height of the pandemic in January 2021, Marian generously offered her Instagram followers her highly regarded insights, pointers, and tips on how to write a book. This year she’s embarked on a brand-new podcast for BBC Sounds with fellow comedian Tara Flynn called, Now You’re Asking, where the two women try to solve people’s dilemmas and conundrums. And yes, her much anticipated sequel to Rachel’s Holiday, entitled Again, Rachel is out this month.
Twink
No list about funny Irish women could be considered complete without the addition of the living legend that is Twink, otherwise known as Adele King.
To me, she is the undisputed queen of panto, (“oh no she isn’t, oh yes she is!”) but to others she’s the cheeky personality that made them laugh until they cried, on variety comedy shows such as, The Live Mike with Mike Murphy.
Twink also performed with legendary singer Perry Como in 1994 shortly after she had given birth to her daughter Naomi. Como famously asked Twink to bring the baby out on stage and the moment went down in showbiz history.
At the age of 70, she’s still as glamourous, straight-taking and funny as ever and recently talked about how Maureen Potter was a real inspiration to her, in the RTÉ show, Shoulders of Giants.
Aisling Bea
Aisling Bea is one busy bee… yes okay, I’ll get my coat. Bad puns aside, there’s nothing remotely bad about this hilarious and talented young Irish woman, who’s taking the world by storm.
Originally studying drama at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Bea found herself being cast in comedy roles and decided to try her hand at stand-up.
She was a big hit, winning awards at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Regular appearances on popular panel shows such as, QI and 8 Out of 10 Cats followed, as well as roles in shows such as, Amy Huberman’s Finding Joy, the Netflix comedy-drama series Living with Yourself with Paul Rudd and even an appearance in Doctor Who.
Her breakthrough really came with her stunning, tender and touching series, This Way Up which she penned and stars in, with real life friend Sharon Horgan. Bea plays quick witted teacher Áine, who's trying to pull her life back together after a “teeny, little nervous breakdown.” It’s a real gem and the chemistry between the two women is undeniable.
Tara Flynn
The multi-talented Tara Flynn is both a woman with impeccable comic timing and a gift for using sharp satire in the name of activism.
A writer, a comedian, and an actress, in 2021, Corkonian Tara was the Grand Marshal of the virtual St. Patrick’s Festival. On getting the prestigious gig, she said, “It is a great honour. I’ve never felt more Irish! Plus they asked. I mean, it’s virtual but you could say I’m virtually delighted!”
In 2018, Tara brought her experience of having to travel abroad for an abortion to life in a remarkable, extraordinary and unforgettable one woman show, called Not a Funny Word, that showcased her incredible talent for fusing comedy and darker subject matters.
A trait that perhaps is one of the reasons why she and Marian Keyes have teamed up for their new podcast together called, Not a Funny Word. Tara said, “when Marian and I were asked to do a podcast about problems, I - being a total problem person - leapt at the chance. It's a dream come true to make other people's problems our problems. To take their mountains and squish them into molehills. And hopefully make them feel better about themselves while we do it.”
Dirtbirds
Sinead Culbert and Sue Collins were both comedians on the circuit when they decided to join forces and post sketches on social media in 2016 and became known as, the Dirtbirds. Their first sketch about a clueless beauty Vlogger from Dundalk and her hapless model from Ardee, was an instant hit. Whether they are parodying the perfect ideals of motherhood, or finding the humour in the pandemic, the duo have become a sensation.
Their sketches have had millions of views to date and they have sold out venues across the country with their two shows, Dirtbirds Live and The Self Help Tour.
This year Sinead and Sue will be touring with their new show #NoFilters.
Emma Doran
Chances are you’ve seen one of Emma’s hilarious skits on social media and have found yourself laughing and nodding along in equal measure.
Whether she’s sending up the 90s or finding the hilarity in the peculiar idiosyncrasies of Irish people's handling of the pandemic, (her Mad, isn’t it? Skit perfectly encapsulated how the Irish dealt with lockdown,) she’s starting to make big waves in the comedy world. She recently took the plunge, to pursue her passion full time. “I decided to give up my full-time job. It was my safety blanket financially, but it was also my excuse 'well I have a job as well so...' I can't write as much, or gig as much etc.”
As well as appearing in shows like RTE’s Bridget and Eamonn, she presents a podcast with fellow comedian Julie Jay called Up to 90 and recently performed stand-up on The Deirdre O’Kane Show.
Norma Sheahan
Corkonian Norma Sheahan’s voice is instantly recognisable and can’t help but elicit a laugh. As well as doing a raft of voiceover work, this forthright and funny woman is also an award-winning actress of stage and screen who has appeared in the likes of Moone Boy, Finding Joy, Ripper Street, Intermission and The Clinic.
With an ability to take on both comedic and straight roles, Norma has found a whole new audience with what began as a one woman show and has evolved into a successful podcast, called Heal Your Hole, which wants to… well… heal you, one laugh at a time. Currently treading the boards in Willy Russell’s fantastic Shirley Valentine, Norma is touring the country and ready to bring some much needed laughs back into our lives.
Julie Jay
If you haven’t landed upon a Julie Jay sketch on TikTok, are you even on TikTok? The comedian and creator of a host of hilarious social media skits, is one of the most exciting talents in the Irish comedy scene. The new mum, who gave birth to her first child, Ted, during the pandemic, recently tied with knot with fellow comedian Fred Cooke who the nation fell in love with on RTE’s Dancing with the Stars in 2019.
“To be honest, I started stand-up because it was cheaper than counselling,” she laughs. “I jest of course - I really started it to meet a husband, which I did, so my work here is done! Although he did get me a voucher for Christmas so who's to say how long this marriage will last.”
Jay is currently prepping for her anticipated one-woman show Oops, This is Toxic, which she says is “a love-letter to Britney Spears and an exploration of 00s misogyny, cowboy boots and badly applied fake tan.”
Jennifer Zamparelli
Known for her razor-sharp wit and buckets of confidence, Jennifer Zamparelli is a woman of many talents.
She’s currently back hosting the popular Dancing with the Stars on RTE One with Nicky Byrne and talks to the nation every morning on her RTE 2fm show, where no topic is off the agenda.
Jennifer first burst onto our screens on the BBC show The Apprentice in 2008, wowing Lord Alan and co with her ballsy attitude and natural ability to sell. She certainly sold herself well and went on to write in and star in a host of successful shows, most notably, hidden camera show The Fear, Republic of Telly and the much loved Bridget and Eamonn. The broadcaster famously revealed live on air she was expecting her second baby in 2017 saying, "I went around and told everybody this because I look fat, basically, I'm up the pole, bun in the oven, the stork is coming - I'm pregnant.”