Over 30 top comedians coming to Belfast & Derry for the inaugural Cat Laughs Comedy Festival

Ireland's longest-running and best-loved comedy event, The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival is expanding its reach to Belfast & Derry for the very first time in May 2025.

Belfast’s reputation as a comedy city has exploded over the last decade, with a new wave of local comedians selling out huge venues, alongside a new and endless stream of international A-list comics visiting the city, and hundreds of thousands of fans attending shows across the city each year.

In its inaugural year, The Cat Laughs will extend its reach to Belfast, hosting a series of stand-up shows at venues such as Waterfront Hall, Lavery’s, Black Box, Sunflower, Naughton Studios at the Lyric, Limelight, and others, as well as the Millennium Forum in Derry.

Richard Cook, Founder of The Cat Laughs, says, “I’m very proud of the format pioneered by the Cat Laughs, where carefully selected headliners share the stage and perform for 10-15 minutes each.

"It provides a unique experience—a fantastic way to explore a range of comedy styles in one night, all while maintaining the high-quality standard that’s become the Cat Laughs trademark. It’s the perfect night out!

"I’m thrilled to be partnering with Shine and TSW Management to bring this festival format to the vibrant comedy scenes in Belfast and Derry"

Joe Dougan of Shine & TSW Management adds: “Northern Ireland’s comedy scene has seen an incredible rise over the last 5 years - with a huge & growing domestic scene, and substantial attention from A list international comics on tour.

"The Cat Laughs is at the absolute top of the list for all of the NI acts, and I’d view it as an endorsement of the quality of the performers, clubs and writers across the country that they’re bringing the festival to Belfast and Derry in 2025.”

How to get tickets:

For ticket information, visit thecatlaughs.com

CAT LAUGHS NINE LIVES GALA 1: Friday 23rd May

MC: Colin Murphy

1.Paddy Raff

2.Mark McCarney

3.Deirdre O’Kane

4.David O’Doherty

INTERVAL

1.Gearoid Farrelly

2.Emma Doran

3.Alison Spittle

4.Neil Delamere

CAT LAUGHS NINE LIVES GALA 2: Saturday 24th May

MC: Karl Spain

1.William Thompson

2.Susie McCabe

3.Mike Rice

4.Colin Geddis

INTERVAL

1.Seann Walsh

2.Diona Doherty

3.Vlad Ilich

4.Vittorio Angeloni

NINE LIVES GALA 3: Sunday 25th May

MC: Andrew Ryan

1.Chris Kent

2.Kyla Cobbler

3.Ray Bradshaw

4.Scott Bennett

INTERVAL

1.Christopher Macarther-Boyd

2.Shane Todd

3.Rich Hall

4.Paddy McDonnell

NINE LIVES DERRY GALA: Monday 26th May

MC: ANDREW RYAN

1.Vittorio Angelone

2.Emma Doran

3.Shane Todd

4.David O’Doherty

INTERVAL

1.Rich Hall

2.Scott Bennett

3.Deirdre O’Kane

4.Neil Delamere

Find out more from thecatlaughs.com

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