Funny side up: how female Irish comedians laugh at life

Never mind our on and mostly off summer weather. Four top female comedians believe laughing at life is the best way to beat the blues

L-R: Alison Spittle, Sinéad Culbert, Julie Jay, Sinéad Quinlan

The spotlight is on Irish female comedians. They are making fun of the world around us — including the weather — and selling out national and international venues in the process. Here, four of Ireland’s leading funny women talk about the value of laughter and how it helps them navigate life’s ups and downs.

For comedian Alison Spittle, being able to make people laugh has been a valuable tool in her psychological arsenal. It started when she was a kid and her family moved around a lot. “I was always the new girl at school and quickly learned I could make friends easily by being funny,” she says.