I BLOODY love Gearóid Farrelly.
I first saw him at the Fringe two years ago playing in a glorified cargo container and I was helped out, sore of side and red of eye.
I wish to God I could remember the punchline to his gag about two old ladies looking at apricots in the supermarket.
We all have certain styles of comedy that we like, and Gearóid certainly ticks my boxes.
Being born in 1970, I grew up with waspish, withering camp comedians on the telly, think Larry Grayson and Kenny Williams.
And Mr Farrelly has brought that bang up to date. Think Frankie Howerd after a Red Bull or two too many. With swearing.
And when he pulls his disgusted face? It’s like Father Ted’s housekeeper, except I don’t recall Mrs Doyle ever crowing about spending only nine Euro on a sparkly vest from Temu.
I was desperately trying to remember who it was that Gearóid was reminding me of and halfway through it suddenly struck me – it was one of my Depute Head Teachers who could be the funniest, bitchiest colleague on the planet. No wonder we got on so well.
But I digress. I’m not here to give punchline spoilers so suffice to say Gearóid’s tales of appearing as Ireland’s Dancing With The Stars same-sex couple, his explanation of the hierarchy of the gay community and his penchant for a dungaree had the crowd in the palm of his hand.
But it was when he told us of adopting and then caring for his cat had that I began liteally crying with laughter.
I started to lose it when Gearóid described his new vet as “a total ride, like something out of Love Island but without the head injury”, and then totally lost it when he impersonated one of the 30-something women who suddenly started turning up at the surgery with mysteriously unwell animals.
That one line is worth the entrance fee alone and, judging by the near-capacity crowd I was part of, you’d better move quick to secure one of the hottest tickets on the Fringe.
Gearoid Farrelly: No Pressure, 19.20, Assembly George Square – Studio, August 5-30 (not 18).
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/gear-id-farrelly-no-pressure
