BORED by the usual alcohol stories in theatre and film which are “universally gritty and depressing”, Cork comedian Tadhg Hickey was inspired to write a surreal show about an alcoholic called Feargal using the Catholic calendar as a roadmap.

Renowned worldwide for their razor-sharp wit and cutting sense of humour, Corkonians are getting their very own comedy festival.

I was a very mouthy kid, the youngest of five and very precocious.

Next week’s Fringe will be Róise Goan’s last as director. She has helped make the festival the spiritual home of contemporary performance, says Pádraic Killeen