This much I know: Katherine Lynch

All comics are big children.

We love the buzz and the excitement of stand up. I love being very bold, so I prefer doing live shows to TV work as they allow me to be even more risqué.

My aim is for the shows to feel like a huge party so I ask people to leave their problems at the door, join in our group hugs, our scream therapy — whatever it takes to forget the recession and head off into the wonderful world of comedy.

I have been friends with Warren Myler, my writing partner, for 15 years — well, he would probably qualify that with a ‘most of the time’. We have a very close creative relationship but we can fight like anything. You could say we are like a brother and sister.

My worst habit is red wine. That mightn’t sound like too much of a bad habit but it is if you drink it by the bucketful.

I’m not great on the whole work/ life balance thing. I seem to be thinking 24/7 — but maybe not doing enough. I need time off to do a time management course.

After school, I trained as a hair dresser. Then I decided I had to try acting. I lived on noodles for a year while I trained at Bull Alley and started out as a straight actor doing Shakespeare, Pinter — all the greats. Then I began dragging my costumes and my act around every gay bar in town until I made a name for myself as a comic.

I have fantastic memories of growing up in Leitrim. The first is throwing a tantrum and running away to hide in the long grass of the big field one summer before the hay was cut. My family found me no problem and just pointed at me, laughed, handed me some sandwiches and said, ‘there you go, we don’t want you going hungry’ before walking off again.

I love going back home and into Thomas Casey’s in Mohill. They still treat me the same.

I was a cheeky child, but I think I was funny enough so most of the teachers liked me.

I never really had a big urge to be famous — I was driven more by the desire to entertain everyone.

My grandmother and Patrick Kavanagh were brother and sister so I’m his grand niece. He’s certainly been a huge influence on me. There is another side to me — away from the comedy and the characters I’ve started writing poetry and songs.

I’m the second oldest of four kids. They are all most definitely funnier than me. My late father Tom Lynch was a great writer and wit. He had such a gift for timing. Losing him was one of the hardest things I’ve had to face. It made me realise why people used to wear black when they were in mourning, to let other people know.

Of course I’m influenced by growing up in a fairly small community where anyone who was not the norm was considered a ‘character’. But I never set out to hurt anyone with my acts and I don’t think anyone is really offended.

If I wasn’t doing this, I’d quite like to be a national school teacher.

If I could change one thing in our society, I’d encourage people to be more honest, dishonesty creates so much negativity.

I have to be honest and say I’m not on a health kick at the moment — I joined a gym but I only ever seem to go to the Christmas party.

My best advice for anyone who wants to get into stand up is — don’t do it. Ah no, do it — but remember to leave the ego at home no matter how successful you are, or think you are.

Katherine Lynch’s ‘The Hack of Ya’ tour dates include UCH, Limerick, December 9; INEC, Killarney, Dec 10; The Helix, Dublin, Dec 16 and TLT, Drogheda, Dec 17.