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LAST UPDATE | 6 Nov 2025
AHEAD OF A Sinn Féin bill that would recognise comedy alongside other art forms reaching second stage in the Dáil, comedians have spoken out about how difficult it is to make ends meet in the industry at the moment.
As things currently stand, comedians have essentially been locked out of Arts Council funding that other artists like actors, writers and musicians can apply for.
The Sinn Féin bill, which seeks to alter this, has been delayed by the Arts Minister Patrick O’Donovan, despite him previously saying that the Arts Council should revise how it assesses grant applications.
A number of comedians addressed TDs and Senators this morning in Leinster House ahead of the second stage hearing of the Sinn Féin bill in the Dáil this evening.
Comedian Ailish McCarthy, who spearheaded this campaign to have comedy recognised as an art form in legislation, said all comedians want is a “seat at the table” and access to the same supports that other artists get.
“The Arts Council can only fund what is named legislation. Comedian, stand-ups, improvisers and sketch performers are automatically excluded from applying for support, no matter how talented, innovative or culturally significant their work might be,” she said.
She said that despite Ireland producing some of the “finest comedians in the world”, Irish comedians are forced to emigrate to the UK to find career pathways, mentorship, development and grants.
“We are exporting talent that should be nurtured at home,” she said, adding that the Arts Council needs to be a “genuine partner rather than a gatekeeper”.
Comedian and school teacher Sinead Crilly spoke about how difficult it is to run a comedy club in Ireland.
She said she has considered moving abroad for work, but ultimately wants to stay in Ireland.
Becoming visibly emotional, she said: “I’m staying in Ireland. But it’s affecting my comedy, my ability to do comedy, and it’s just not right. To be honest with you, it’s actually quite upsetting.
“It feels like, for working-class people, there’s money for all the nice violin players and everything, but there isn’t money for people doing the arts [that are] more for the working class. And I don’t think that’s fair.”
Comedian Ciaran McMahon, who runs comedy workshops, said there is amazing talent in Ireland but that he is not able to compete with schools of acting, which are in receipt of State funding, that can put on stand-up courses.
“I can’t compete with their budget. I can’t compete with their space, so I end up again, as I said, in attics and basements with mops and brooms and trying to do comedy there.”
He added that he is tired of applying for grants because “as soon as they see comedy in the script”, the application gets dismissed.
The bill, tabled by Aengus Ó Snodaigh, would add the term ‘comedy’ to the list of art forms as set out in the Arts Act 2003, which currently recognises: “visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus and architecture”.
Earlier this week, the Minister for Arts, Patrick O’Donovan, got Cabinet approval to introduce a timed amendment of 18 months to the bill.
This means that the bill is not being opposed by government, but is being pushed out to a later date in order for more work to be done on the matter.
The minister outlined that he believes the Sinn Féin bill is premature pending the outcome of the Expert Advisory Committee’s review into the governance and organisational culture of the Arts Council.
Asked about this reasoning today, Ó Snodaigh said the review of the Arts Council has nothing to do with what this bill seeks to do.
“This isn’t to do with governance, it is to do with funding,” he said.
He said the government’s decision to delay the bill was “delaying something that is inevitable, given the cross-party support.”
Fine Gael TD Brian Brennan expressed his backing for the bill today. Speaking during today’s briefing, he said:
“The crux of the matter is, who has the divine right to say what an artist is?”
Ó Snodaigh was quick with his response: “The Minister for Arts”.
He said he was hoping the minister might withdraw the timed amendment.
“We live in hope,” he concluded.
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