Emma Doran's most memorable comedy moments

Irish comedian Emma Doran is currently touring her stand-up show Emmaculate, about the impossibility of having the perfect family life. Here the Last One Laughing Ireland star and successful TikTokker recalls some of her most memorable gigs…

First gig

My first gig was August 2013. Totally unaware that half the comedy circuit were in Edinburgh for the month I signed up to do an open mic night called Battle Of The Axe in Dublin. 

I was on maternity leave and I’m pretty sure my partner thought I was having a breakdown, maybe I was. But I was 29 and thought I’m getting ‘old’, let me give this a try. 

Bursting through the doors of the pub I announced to the barman ‘I’m here for the comedy!’. His response was unimpressed at best. As I recall there was 11 acts on the night doing seven minutes. I was seventh. I didn’t know how to introduce myself or close a set so when I told my last joke I just walked off stage.

The audience voted on the night as to who was the best. I won. That was the beginning of my terrible addiction.

Gig that taught me the biggest lesson

Early on, in the first couple of years I was booked (because I begged) on a star-studded comedy charity gig in the biggest venue I had ever played: Vicar Street.

All the other comedians were household names and I was not. For some reason, I assume inexperience, I decided that the agents that would be in attendance had probably seen me already and I needed to rock up with new shiny material. I didn’t completely die on my hole but I do remember seeing someone in the wings standing by with a defibrillator through the pearls of sweat streaming down my face.

I had no awareness that it was OK to ‘play the hits’. I’d no mentor, no seasoned comics in my phone to turn to for advice.

 Most unusual location

Probably a women’s prison on International Women’s Day. I hadn’t anticipated the energy in the building even. 

Within about three seconds of being in the place I realised my material about boring everyday life was the dream for these women. 

The warden told me that from her experience when men are in prison women come and visit them. Their mothers, wives, girlfriends try their best to stay positive and keep them connected to life outside. When women go to prison a lot of them get abandoned and have no visitors. 

Now that’s not funny but I think it's important to be aware that, as a woman, if you’ve ever returned to the house after nipping out to get milk and bread and your husband looks shocked it’s probably because he’d forgotten about you already.

Most exotic gig

Leisureland in Salthill, Galway. It may not be exotic to most but its on my list. As the name suggests it is a literal swimming pool. So you get to perform stand up with the smell of chlorine swirling around your head. The sound from the audience travels up rather than at you so the only way to judge if you’re doing well is if the chlorine smell becomes more intense after delivering a punchline.

Worst journey to a gig

When I was eight-and-a-half months pregnant with my youngest I was headed to Galway to take part in a comedy competition. Word had gotten around that I was driving and next thing I knew I was giving a lift to three other comedians who were also taking part. 

For most of the two-and-a-half hour drive the other comedians ignored me and chatted about their favourite porn stars and genres. In fairness I didn’t have much to add to the conversation. The three had also decided that ‘Dave’ who was entering the competition deserved to win as he had a family to support. 

About two hours into our little jaunt my new car that I had bought to accommodate my growing brood had broken down. Unfortunately none of fellow passengers knew anything about cars and had no interest in acquiring a new skill. One did get out of the car to ring the promoter as he was worried we now might be late.

In the end we made it for the second half of the show with the help of a lovely roadside assistance man who did enquire: ‘What’s the f***ing story with the lads there?’

I didn’t have an answer for him at the time and I wouldn’t have an answer for him now. I got through to the final and I dumped the lads on the way home and I haven’t seen any of them since.

• Emma Doran is touring the UK and Ireland with her stand-up show Emmaculate. Emma Doran tour dates.

Published: 13 Oct 2025