Notorious ‘hood’ was comedian’s biggest challenge

COMEDIAN Des Bishop has said the Southill area of Limerick was his toughest challenge while filming for his latest show - Joy in Da Hood.

Mr Bishop who spent weeks living in disadvantaged areas of Ireland said nothing compared to the grim O’Malley estate in Southill.

The comedian rented a previously boarded up house from Limerick City Council, and, despite finding four budding comedians, said Southill was the roughest area he stayed in.

“Southill was definitely the roughest area. We had a great time there and I don’t mean to be putting it down for those who had to live in it, but in other places a lot of the crime problems are hidden, whereas in Southill - it is just out there.

“In general when groups get too much power in a community it is bad and it appears that is what has happened in Southill.”

Southill has rarely been out of the headlines in recent years as the centre of the notorious Keane-Ryan feud.

While living in crime blackspots in Dublin, Belfast, Derry, Cork, Galway and Limerick, Mr Bishop ran comedy workshops and put locals on the stage.

Monday night’s show, which featured his three-week stay in Knocknaheeny, on Cork’s northside, has drawn some criticism.

Cork city ‘northside’ councillor Michael O’Connell has called on Mr Bishop to publicly apologise to the people of Knocknaheeny, while Cork-based Fine Gael TD Bernard Allen said he plans to lodge a complaint with the Broadcasting Complaints Commission.

The comedian yesterday hit back at his critics accusing them of destroying the show’s positive elements.

“My mission was to find talent; show the people of Knocknaheeny coming together and the community supporting that,” he said.

“Now we have politicians and others jumping on the bandwagon and destroying all that.”

Mr Bishop, who concludes a 14-night sell-out run in Cork Opera House tonight, said people can expect more of the same from next Monday’s show featuring Southill.

“It’s an area that’s been demoralised by the media over the years,” he said.

“I was very conscious of the fact that I didn’t want that to happen with this show. I consider it to be the most positive programme.”