Ennistymon goes Oh La La for comedy club

“THERE is no such thing as a free lunch”, says the tired old adage but try telling that to the originators of the West Clare success story that is Oh La Laughs.
Launched by Limerick academic and comedian, Stephen Ryan, together with Clare-based singer-songwriter,

By John Rainsford

 

Lou McMahon, in 2012, their dream, for an admission-free comedy club, has now been transformed into a must-see event.

Oh La Laughs showcases some of the country’s best-known comedy talents such as Limerick-based comedian, John Spillane and Ennis man, Donnchadh Tiernan.

Indeed, Galway comedian, Connor McDonough-Flynn, Aodh Rua Fitzgerald from Cork, Derek Nolan from Tipperary and Tullamore’s Johnny Graham are all on the bill this month. The latter is better known as the ‘man flu guy’ of the well-known viral Youtube video.

The Ennistymon-based comedy club, which is a first for Clare, was founded in November 2012, with University of Limerick-based Stephen Ryan acting as the MC.

“After graduating from university I went to work briefly in a factory and later an office,” he explains.

“However, I decided to go back to UL to study for a PhD in history, where I have been ever since. I play hurling and football with Ahane GAA club and as well as performing comedy, occasionally give historical talks to history societies in Limerick and Tipperary. While I am not from Ennistymon, spending time in West Clare in recent months has really given me a flavour for the area.

“West Clare is a musical and cultural hub with many supportive people living there. I had been performing for a while and a few of my friends, who were also comedians, had set up clubs in Limerick.

“Therefore, I decided that it would be a good idea to set one up in Clare in the form of Oh La Laughs. I have high hopes that the comedy club, in Ennistymon, will meet monthly from now on.”

Far from being an obstacle the current recession is actually driving a renaissance in comedy nationally and regionally. Indeed, according to Stephen, who is, also, a regular performer at UL comedy society events, more and more people are seeking a low cost night out with a good laugh.

“At Oh La Laughs there is no admission charge,” he says. “I would not like there to be one for the simple reason that I would not like somebody who wants to come and enjoy the night to feel that they cannot come because it would impinge on their weekly budget.

However, we do leave out bowls and ask for a donation from patrons to cover the costs incurred in the promotion.

“Like most comedians, I am not expecting to make millions but it is nice not to be out of pocket either. Before I set up the first gig I travelled to Dublin to buy a second hand Public Address system for just €80. I then went online to buy a €20 microphone stand. I also printed the programmes for the event myself and paid for the advertising on Facebook.”

Lou McMahon, who spent a lot of time in Ennistymon herself, put Stephen in touch with Marie Georget who owns the Oh La La French Crêperie there. Indeed, without Lou’s support Oh La Laughs would not have been possible, Stephen readily acknowledges.

Lou McMahon is also an experienced promoter, which means there was a real sense of confidence and knowledge surrounding the project. More practically, as a reporter with Lyric FM’s Culture File, she was able to produce a podcast for Oh La Laughs, which attracted quite a bit of attention.

Lou McMahon states, “I was in the wonderful Oh La La Crêperie in Ennistymon one day when Marie Georget mentioned that she would like to showcase live entertainment at her venue. Aware that I had set up The White Horse Sessions, in Lahinch, she asked me for some advice.

“I immediately contacted Stephen Ryan because I knew that he had been looking out for a decent venue to host a comedy club in for quite some time. I sensed that everything, down to the name of this venue, was perfect. Marie and Steve exchanged numbers and the rest, as they say, is history.

“As I have experience in radio production and promotion I made a podcast for the event to add to my creative portfolio. There is a wealth of music in Clare but Oh La Laughs is, currently, the only comedy club so I do think that it will benefit the people of Ennistymon and also those further afield.

“Looking out into the crowd on our first night, last November, I saw faces from surrounding areas like Lahinch, Liscannor, Inagh and more. It was full to capacity, and there was a lovely atmosphere. Marie served French cider, coffee, wine and tapas, with all the tables being candlelit.

“As a result, the comedians were blown away by the response they received and we are now confident of going from strength to strength.”

Indeed, with regards to comedy in Clare it appears that the only way is up. There is clearly a market for it and Oh La Laughs is now the first successful Comedy Club in the county. With the possibility of another club in Ennis, Clare comedy has clearly come into its own.

Stephen and Lou, however, are unsure if this happening because people are tired of watching TV or whether they need the uplifting experience of a good laugh in these hard times.

Aside from fostering an interest in those that appreciate comedy, recession, it seems, is also encouraging a new breed of comedian to ply their trade both locally and nationally.

Stephen, himself, won a small role on The Mario Rosenstock Show in 2012 and is currently talking to Owen Colgan, of Hardy Bucks fame, about working on a new project in 2013.

“Comedy is as difficult as you make it and very dependent on what you want out of it,” says Stephen Ryan.

“For most comedians it is less of a career and more of an extended vanity project. In other words they tend to do it for the love of doing it and are content with that. However, by taking up comedy you are also putting your head above the parapet and a negative response can certainly damage your self-confidence. Writing workshops, therefore, are an excellent way of overcoming your nerves and of developing some new comic ideas.

“One thing that I would be keen to do is to give comedians an opportunity to transition from short (7-10 minute) slots to even longer sets. I find that this is something which very few clubs are prepared to offer. I have, also, been toying with the idea of a festival but that might be putting the cart before the horse,” he says.