Arresting Development

Danny O’Brien 29JAN19

t’s nearly always the way with comedy that the brightest lights come out of the dullest places.

On the surface, Glasgow might seem bereft of colour, of culture, of reasons to be cheerful, and yet, it gave the world Billy Connolly.

Deepest, darkest Meath gave us Dylan Moran, and Tommy Tiernan. Nondescript Wilmette, Illinois gave us Bill Murray, none-too-inspiring Walworth, London gave us Charlie Chaplin, and piss-poor Peoria, Illinois thrust Richard Pryor upon an unsuspecting world.

None of these humble birthplaces are known for being hotbeds of creativity, a fact that, in truth, only pushed their bored and mischievous sons to ever larger flights of fancy, and silly.

Which may go some way to explaining how the boring Bord Fáilte wet dream that is Glendalough could produce someone as razor-sharp funny as Danny O’Brien.

The man is undoubtedly one of Ireland’s finest stand-ups today, as proven by O’Brien’s rise over the past few years, as his annual tours play to bigger and bigger packed house. That Sold Out banner hit every date of his recent 10-city European tour, as well as the Galway International Arts Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe. The latter was a 27-date run, with a full house every night.

And when you’re playing support to one of your idols, Bill Burr, at the 3Arena, and the man says you “fucking murdered it“, well, it’s clear that this wheel’s on fire.

More importantly, the man feckin’stormedGreystones recently, being very much the finest 20 minutes of The Whale‘s recent Evening Of Extraordinary Ideas.

As he brings the Reformer tour to town for his headlining gig here on Friday, February 21st, we caught up O’Brien in de big city this afternoon to talk funny, fame, and forging a glittering, globe-trotting career…

You can find out more about the bould Danny O’Brien on his website here, and catch him in full flight right here. You can also grab tickets for that Friday, February 21st 2020 show at The Whale right here.