Clowning around: Ireland's oldest working clown on life in the Big Top  

Mikey Gerbola in his element under the Big Top. His signature act begins with him slowly applying his clown makeup on stage to the haunting tune of 'Smile.' Picture: Chani Anderson

The country’s oldest working clown has revealed how he swapped life in the Big Top for a regular nine to five, but the “groundhog nature” of the job had him rushing back to his greasepaint.

Mikey Gerbola has been clowning around now for more than half a century and is showing no sign of slowing down.