ONE thing is certain: over the course of this weekend it cannot be said that ‘there’s nothing to do in Omagh’.

The first ever Omagh comedy festival or ‘Omagh Laughs Back’ is about to descend on the town and patrons from all over the country will be rolling in the aisles as some of Ireland’s top comedians head West.

Throughout the three days and nights there really will be something to tickle everyone’s fancy.

Household names from the world of comedy will mingle with some of the cream of up and coming new talent as they take to the stages of five different venues throughout the town.

The now renowned Daly’s comedy club team are the driving force behind this first step into the festival scene and using the Edinburgh fringe as a model festival, co-ordinator Conor Keys says it really is a short sharp jab on the funny bone for the North West.

“We looked at a possible comedy festival for a couple of years, but felt it was important not just to focus on night time shows, we took on board what the Edinburgh fringe does and built our festival to that design,” he explained.

Pulling in comedians in the calibre of Ardal O’Hanlon, Tim McGarry and David O’Doherty who has recently been on ‘8 out of 10 cats’ on Channel four, has been all down to the success of the Daly’s club, according to Conor.

“With shows throughout the town expect to see some of these talented comics standing beside you at the bar or in the chippy” says Conor.

“The day time shows will be followed by a 7pm show, a 10pm show and then the late one in Daly’s, these boys and girls will be about the town over the three days and knowing them, they really could turn up anywhere.” “We have some great magic shows and family entertainment over the weekend, Omagh’s own Liam O’Neill will be performing and we also have a kids stand-up show, comedy films in the basement and just a thrilling programme of fun.

“Colin Geddis and Mickey Bartlett will run a comedy workshop as well as perform, the local hotels and guest houses will be filled with comedians over the weekend and the whole town should be buzzing, we just hope that the local community support the shows and events, a lot of them are free or Pay what you want shows.” The Omagh comedy festival is self-funded.

Details on the festival are on dalyscomedyclub.com.

ONE thing is certain: over the course of this weekend it cannot be said that ‘there’s nothing to do in Omagh’.

The first ever Omagh comedy festival or ‘Omagh Laughs Back’ is about to descend on the town and patrons from all over the country will be rolling in the aisles as some of Ireland’s top comedians head West.

Throughout the three days and nights there really will be something to tickle everyone’s fancy.

Household names from the world of comedy will mingle with some of the cream of up and coming new talent as they take to the stages of five different venues throughout the town.

The now renowned Daly’s comedy club team are the driving force behind this first step into the festival scene and using the Edinburgh fringe as a model festival, co-ordinator Conor Keys says it really is a short sharp jab on the funny bone for the North West.

“We looked at a possible comedy festival for a couple of years, but felt it was important not just to focus on night time shows, we took on board what the Edinburgh fringe does and built our festival to that design,” he explained.

Pulling in comedians in the calibre of Ardal O’Hanlon, Tim McGarry and David O’Doherty who has recently been on ‘8 out of 10 cats’ on Channel four, has been all down to the success of the Daly’s club, according to Conor.

“With shows throughout the town expect to see some of these talented comics standing beside you at the bar or in the chippy” says Conor.

“The day time shows will be followed by a 7pm show, a 10pm show and then the late one in Daly’s, these boys and girls will be about the town over the three days and knowing them, they really could turn up anywhere.” “We have some great magic shows and family entertainment over the weekend, Omagh’s own Liam O’Neill will be performing and we also have a kids stand-up show, comedy films in the basement and just a thrilling programme of fun.

“Colin Geddis and Mickey Bartlett will run a comedy workshop as well as perform, the local hotels and guest houses will be filled with comedians over the weekend and the whole town should be buzzing, we just hope that the local community support the shows and events, a lot of them are free or Pay what you want shows.” The Omagh comedy festival is self-funded.

Details on the festival are on dalyscomedyclub.com.