Northside brothers surviving with new comedy show

TWO Portmarnock brothers have created a must-see play for both Irish visitors and tourists.

Performed daily at the International Bar on Wicklow Street, the comic sketch show – ‘Ireland: A Survivor’s Guide’ – both entertains and informs as it offers “a rollercoaster guide” to Irish culture and customs.

Seán and Niall MacDonagh both began their careers as actors before setting up the High Rock Production theatre company in 2011.

They quickly became known for their show, ‘Caith Amach É’, a production performed in Irish for school children studying for the Irish oral exam.

Sean MacDonagh told Northside People how their experience of these shows helped them transition to performing in their latest play.

“If you can perform in Irish to schoolkids of 18 and 19, who come in believing they’re gonna hate the show and make them laugh in the end, going into audiences of adults in English is grand,” he says. 

The duo began looking for work in the summer while they weren’t performing in schools, which lead to the inception of ‘Ireland: A Survivor’s Guide’.

Featuring sketches such as ‘A History of Ireland in seven minutes’ and an interactive hurling match, Sean feels that the show is able to give a true sense of Ireland to tourists.

“If you visit Ireland for two weeks, you might go on a bus and see the Cliffs of Moher or Riverdance but would you really get a sense of the Irish people and the craic?

“If you visit Ireland you should get a sense of that, so we decided that we could give people that in an hour,” says Sean. 

Since beginning their residency at the International Bar in June, the MacDonaghs have had to get used to running and promoting shows as well as just performing.

With shows running five times a week, the comedians have become used to the challenges that come with getting people in the door, especially when catering to tourists.

“Starting a show is something entirely different to just acting,” adds Sean. 

“We had to learn that and learn there’s a lot of work that goes into it. 

“With tourists, you are literally up against Guinness. You’re trying to get people to skip that and come to your show.”

The MacDonaghs’ unique brand of physical comedy, as well as the always exciting nature of Irish life and culture has resulted in overwhelmingly positive feedback from those who have seen the show.

The show will continue to run throughout the summer in the International Bar from Tuesday to Saturday at 1pm. For more information, visit www.irelandasurvivorsguide.com.

REPORT: Daniel O’Connor