I WANTED to be an altar BOY
Comedian Katy Brand on falling in love with religion ahead of her Galway show
frightening at times. It’s a bit different and last-minute compared to consistent work and knowing where you are going to be from one month to the next,’ she admits.
‘But on the other hand you never get bored or fed up with the same routine. Sometimes it can be hair-raising, but overall I really like it.’
She attended Oxford with fellow comedy actress Katherine Parkinson of IT Crowd fame and the pair remained firm friends, working together at times, and at others sharing each other’s triumphs in the business.
‘We’re still good friends, yes,’ Katy says. ‘And it’s nice to have been on that journey together and shared those experiences.’
Katy is just one of the acts performing at this year’s Vodafone Comedy Carnival which takes place in Galway next week.
She’ll be joining the likes of Kevin Bridges, Al Porter, Foil Arms and Hog, David O’Doherty and a host more acts under the Big Top from Tuesday and running for six days. But the only thing most of these comedians will be praying for is a good crowd and few hecklers on the night.
So what of religious beliefs these days? Is Katy still a church goer?
‘I am one of those annoying people who believes in a higher being,’ Katy says. ‘But I’m not prescribing to any organised religion.’
And what of that one true love choirmaster? Did she ever reveal her feelings?
‘No,’ Katy laughs. ‘He is happily married with children and probably still has no idea how much I loved him at the time.’
The Lord does work in mysterious ways indeed.
THE 2017 Vodafone Comedy Carnival runs as part of Vodafone’s Centre Stage programme, and will see the return of the iconic Spiegeltent to Eyre Square for the third year, accompanied by the now legendary BlundaBus. The line-up includes Katy, Dara Ó’Briain, Kevin Bridges and Tommy Tiernan as well as Jon Richardson, Reginald D Hunter and Rich Hall. Homegrown talent who will be performing include Al Porter, Dermot and Dave, The Rubberbandits, Ardal O’ Hanlon, Neil Delamare, David McSavage, Barry Murphy, Katherine Lynch, PJ Gallagher and Lords Of Strut. You can also travel along the Wild Atlantic Wahey, boarding a bus for a mystery journey to see some of the stars from the festival surprise you with secret performances in this five-hour road trip. Or why not join Karl Spain on his open top bus tour of Galway. Tickets are available from vodafonecomedycarnival.com and tht.ie.