Comedy Night at the Gate starts about 9pm on Sunday December 20th.

Like ripples across a lazy pond Ireland’s comedy stand-up circuit is slowly spreading from urban centres across the rural hinterland. By Christy Parker

As far as East Cork is concerned, the past year saw stand-up reach the shore in monthly indulgence at McDaid’s (Midleton) and Short’s (Castlemartyr). Encouragingly, there has been no shortage of aspiring wits eager to push their patter on audiences that themselves are finding their feet in the stand-up genre. As one would expect in a process finding its way, performances have ranged from the majestic to the mediocre and all points in between. Yet even the worse of the bad can be said to have helped pioneer a new type of night out.

In any case, the man charged with headlining Youghal’s entry to the stand-up comedy circuit at the Gate bar this month is far from mediocre. Chris Kent enjoys a naturally skewed take on life and its daily minutiae. At the early age of 26, he has honed his wonderful comedic skills on stages as distant and diverse as Perth, Dublin and Castlemartyr. He has brought laughter from gatherings ranging from 40 to 400, played support to opened Jason Byrne and, last October won the prestigious Bulmers Nuttin But Funny Competition at the International Comedy festival in Dublin’s Olympia.

An electrician by trade, Chris -originally from Knocknaheeny but now living in South Douglas Road– performed his first routine at a now defunct Cork venue four years ago. “I was always into comedy and after watching some friends at the Tikai Lounge I decided to have a go. It was a bit daunting the first time but I thoroughly enjoyed it and that hasn’t changed since,” he smiles.

He quickly pursued his new direction through venues across the country, especially in Galway, Dublin and Waterford. Two years ago a sense of adventure brought him through south-east Asia en route to New Zealand and Australia. During a year in Australia he worked as an electrician by day and re-connected with his travelling experiences to light up comedy venues in Sydney and Perth by night. “I was a regular in Perth’s five comedy venues for seven months and I also go to the final of the Western Australia section of Australia’s annual Green Faces Comedy Competition,” he recalls.

The current recession has seen increasing demands for his abilities on the comedy circuit rather than the electric equivalents. His diary reflects dates nation wide as he rides the tide of swelling popularity, both of stand-up and his personal interpretations of it, like an Aussie on a surfboard. “Its been very good for me in the last few months, especially since I won the Bulmers title,” he declares  “I’ve been getting a lot of gigs in clubs and pubs.”

His continually evolving material is largely based on real life experiences and his acute observances, while he will cite “Peter Kay, Tommy Tiernan and Pat Shortt” amongst the comedy compatriots he most admires.

Off stage, Chris is working on sketches, based on characters and incidents he encountered when working briefly as a butcher’s assistant in Cork several years ago. “It might be suitable for television,” he muses, as ever eager to expand his horizons.

Meanwhile the historic ‘date at the Gate’ in Youghal is very close on the horizon. “I’m looking forward to it a lot as I’m sure are the other performers involved,” he says. “Its great to be bringing stand-up to new areas and hopefully help to establish a base for it,” he concludes.

Comedy Night at the Gate starts about 9pm on Sunday December 20th.