SHANE Daniel Byrne has become one of Ireland’s leading comedians at breakneck speed, but it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.
The funny lad, best known as one third of the hit podcast Young Hot Guys, recently embarked on a sold out tour of the UK and Ireland – and his next stop is the comedy event of the year.
Shane and fellow comics, Tony Cantwell and Killian Sundermann, will take to the stage at this year’s Paddy Power Festival for a live show of their laugh-out-loud podcast.
Taking place in the Iveagh Gardens from July 24 to 27, the world-class comedy festival has over 90 acts that you won’t want to miss.
Shane told The Irish Sun: “For the Irish comedians, it’s kind of our Christmas do. It’s kind of one of our favourite weekends.
“It’s a bit of a day out, rather than going to the comedy clubs that might be around the cities or the towns.
“Even if you go and you know one person on the bill, then you’ll find you meet the others. So it’s a nice way for the audience to get to know new comedians.”
Included on the star-studded line-up are some of Ireland’s most beloved stand-up acts, such as Tommy Tiernan, Deirdre O’Kane and Jason Byrne.
Tiernan, who is regarded as one of the greats in the comedy world, really does have a hold on his fellow comedians.
Shane admitted: “You’d be nervous as well, because you find yourself doing a set in front of Tommy Tiernan or whoever, and you’re like, oh God.
“I did the festival with him before, a few years ago, and he stands in this spot, the audience can’t see him, but he can see you.
“Like there’s 900 people in there and I’m more worried about what that one man is thinking. So does Daddy Tommy think I’m good?”
“He’ll chat away to you in the green room at the time. So like, comedy is kind of nice like that.
“It doesn’t matter where you’re at, everyone still feels the same thing. Y’all have those jitters just before.”
Aside from his stellar stand-up sets, Byrne recently launched his own podcast with media brand Onic called Ireland Said Yes.
Shane takes viewers on an emotional journey exploring the decade-long fight for same-sex marriage and the cultural shifts that made the historic 2015 referendum possible.
‘SOLIDARITY FROM STRANGERS’
The Irish actor recalled the sense of “relief” he experienced on the day the yes vote came through.
He said: “I remember feeling very comforted because when you walk down the street and they were giving out 500,000 Yes badges, and you see somebody wearing one on their jacket or their shirt or whatever.
“So you just see this expression of solidarity from strangers, and it just kind of made you feel like, oh, I’m okay, people have my back.”
However, the Dubliner was quick to highlight the 38 percent of people who voted No.
Shane added: “I mean, they say, ‘Oh, it’s a landslide’. For a referendum, yeah, that’s a pretty good statistic. 62 per cent is pretty good. But it wasn’t, there’s still loads of people who said no.”
RED-FACED MOMENT
The podcaster recently finished up his sold-out UK and Ireland tour titled Trouble Denim.
And although he’s been receiving five-star reviews for his performance, it hasn’t always been an easy ride.
Looking back on his past gigs, Shane recalled a mortifying moment he experienced on The Late Late Show.
Byrne recalled: “They do these audience warm-up things. It wasn’t a normal Late Late Show. It was their New Year‘s Eve and it was a pre-recorded special.
“So the audience had been sitting there for two hours watching various bits already. And then your man said to me, ‘We ran out of time for you at the beginning, do you want to go out now?’
“And I kind of felt like saying, ‘No, that would be terrible’. And I think he thought I wanted to, so he sent me out.
“I would have gone home. But I went out and the audience were sitting at tables at different sides of the room and nobody wanted to hear from me.
“It was impossible. I got no laughs. I got no attention. it was just me talking into a giant studio microphone by myself – how awkward.”
You can catch Shane and 90 fantastic acts at this year’s Paddy Power Comedy Festival in the Iveagh Gardens.
Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10am from the official Paddy Power Comedy Festival website.
