The first night of the new Thurles comedy club proved a real success, attracting large crowds and even bigger laughs as Hickey’s Pub was filled with a lively audience enjoying a strong opening night of stand-up comedy.
Pheasant Island Comedy Club was founded and organised by Thurles comedian Fionn Cleary after Hickey’s Pub approached him about running a comedy night at the venue. The launch brought together comedians from across Ireland alongside performers from Tipperary, helping to create a strong mix of local and national talent.
Speaking to the Tipperary Star, Cleary said the event marked an important milestone for entertainment in the town. “This is the first night of the Pheasant Island Comedy Club. To my knowledge it is the first comedy night Thurles has ever had outside of gigs in The Source,” he said.
Cleary, who has been involved in comedy on and off for six years, has performed one-man shows and worked in improv and sketch writing. Organising and running his own comedy club was another step in his journey through the comedy world.
He believes Thurles is ideally positioned to support more live entertainment events.
“I think it is a good idea for Thurles because the town is well placed for live entertainment. It is between Cork and Dublin, it is just off the motorway, it is on a great rail network, so there is no reason why Thurles should not be a hub for live entertainment,” he said.
The opening night featured headline act Mark Moloney, a Dublin native now based in Cork, who has recently opened for Fern Brady and Australian sketch comedy group Aunty Donna. Moloney also runs his own alternative comedy show, Test Tube Babies, and co-hosts the Wet Cold Irish Summer podcast alongside fellow comedians Ross O'Donoghue and Thomas Lawrance. He has also performed at Dublin's Olympia Theatre before audiences of around 1,000 people.
Joining him on the bill were Amy Ryan from Hollyford, Patrick Stone from Donegal and Donna Fletcher from Roscrea. The audience also enjoyed surprise appearances from comedians Felix O’Connor and Robert Fox.
Looking to the future, Cleary hopes the success of the opening night can be built upon with regular events.
“I am hoping we will be able to do a gig every month and get a good representation of the thriving comedy scene Ireland has and be able to expose the people of Thurles to entertainment we usually do not get,” he said.
He encouraged people to give the new venture a try, promising a diverse range of acts and comedy styles at future shows.
“We will always try to have a really diverse line-up in terms of comedy so there will likely be something that is your bag. It will be a good way to discover new things and, as I said, we have not had anything like this in the town before so it is just a cool exciting new thing to try.”
From a review perspective, the night was very enjoyable, with a strong atmosphere from the outset and a clear sense that something new had landed in Thurles. The mix of acts, the pace of the show and the reaction from the crowd all combined to create an opening night that felt confident and well received, with plenty of laughter throughout.
Hickey’s Pub itself proved to be an ideal setting for comedy, striking a strong balance between intimacy and capacity. The room is neither too large nor too small, allowing for a sizeable crowd while still maintaining a close, engaged atmosphere between performers and audience.
The stage and lighting setup also worked well for the format, giving performers a clear focal point and helping to create a proper comedy club feel within a traditional pub environment.
Among the more notable moments, Fionn Cleary himself drew a warm response from the crowd when he lightly poked fun at the Thurles town motto “Dwell Awhile”, while headline act Mark Moloney landed a well received quip, saying “I hear you make Guards here”, a reference that drew particular laughter from the audience and nods to nearby Templemore Garda College. Every comedian who took to the mic contributed to the night in their own way.
There was a real sense of momentum building in the room, and an impression that this new venture has the potential to become a regular and welcome addition to the town’s entertainment offering if it continues in the same vein.
9. Opening night for Pheasant Island Comedy Club
Headline act Mark Moloney | Tipperary Star Photo: John Gleeson