Podcast Corner: Upcoming stage shows on the way from Blindboy, I'm Grand Mam, and more...
L-R: Blindboy; The I'm Grand Mam Podcast
Having only taken place in September 2024, Cork Podcast Festival is switching to the first quarter of 2025, with shows running March 13-30. The ubiquitous Blindboy is at Cork Opera House - his home away from home at this stage - on March 13, while other shows announced so far include Birdsong & Irish Rewilding with Sean Ronayne and Eoghan Daltún (March 21, Live at St Luke’s); The Creep Dive (March 22, Live at St Luke’s); Doc On One Live (March 23, Live at St Luke’s); The Laughs Of Your Life with Doireann Garrihy (March 27-28, Cork Opera House); Red Raw Live with Rob Heffernan and Laura O’Mahony (March 29, Cork Opera House); and Nicola Tallant’s Crime World Live (March 30, Cork Opera House). It’s an impressive lineup, with more shows set to be announced.
One of our favourite shows of 2024, comedians Tony Cantwell, Killian Sundermann (fresh from hosting the hilarious Second Captains Fat Quiz of the Year), and Shane Byrne have two dates lined up at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre on January 20 and 21 (sold out). With their individual careers continuing to grow, together expect them to blow up in 2025.
Starting in October 2023, Doireann Ní Ghlacáin, Louise Cantillon, and Síomha Ní Ruairc have built a strong listenership on their bilingual podcast, focusing recently on making first impressions, how to compliment, and how to gift. The best thing you can say about the show is their friendship shines through - nothing feels contrived or forced. They’re heading ‘ar an mbóthar’ in the coming months. The trio kick things off in Dolan’s, Limerick, on February 2, and head to North America for shows in Vancouver, Boston, and New York - Irish expats abound in the cities - before returning for outings in Galway, Cork’s Triskel Christchurch, and Dublin’s newly reopened Ambassador Theatre on March 6, 7, and 14, respectively. Maybe bring the Irish/English foclóir along just in case.
Cork pair Kevin Twomey and PJ Kirby are pretty much unstoppable as they celebrate six years of their podcast in February. It’ll be tough for them to top their 2024 - they toured Down Under in November - but they’re starting strong, with two dates at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre in March already sold out and a third added on March 14. It’s all part of their That’s Showbiz tour, which calls to the Gleneagle INEC Arena in Killarney on April 4. Expect riotous laughs, girlies!
