Taking the crown at Galway Comedy Carnival

Lisa Casey – pictured centre – has been crowned Irish Comedian of the Year 2017. 

She  wins €2,000 and a trip to perform in Australia following her success at the Vodafone Comedy Carnival in Galway.

Casey, from Dundalk, started performing comedy in late 2014 and says she was the class clown who always wanted to be a comedian.

In one interview, she said:  ‘It took a while to build up the courage [to start stand-up]. I have suffered for many years with anxiety and depression so it held me back somewhat. I’m still fighting it but doing what I love makes me stronger.’

Runner-up was Danny Ryan, from Limerick, with Catherine Bohart, a former finalist in the BBC New Comedy Award, third.

Published: 30 Oct 2017