Maynooth, Ireland is doing something simple but rare: hosting a proper comedy festival where you can actually afford to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mayhoots runs April 24-25, 2026, with over 30 shows at four different pubs. Some are ticketed. Some are pay-what-you-wish. No festival pass required. No “pay to unlock the full lineup” nonsense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The festival circuit is stuck. You’ve got expensive destination festivals. You’ve got tiny open-mics nobody knows about. Almost nothing in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mayhoots uses an open-application process. They read submissions instead of just booking people they know. That matters because it means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For comedians:<\/strong> You don’t need 50k followers to get booked. If your material is solid, you get a shot. You’re on a real festival lineup, not a basement open-mic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For bookers and venues:<\/strong> This proves you can run a festival with what you already have. Four existing pubs. Four rooms. Done. No expensive comedy hall required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The venues are O’Neills, Brady’s Clockhouse, McMahons Gastrobar, and The Newtown Inn. Not comedy clubs. Just regular bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the secret. Bars want customers. A festival brings customers. The math works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most failed comedy festivals expect bars to donate space. Mayhoots doesn’t. The venues make money. Comedians make money (or get exposure plus tips). The festival happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two days. Four venues. 30 shows. That’s the critical number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of one comic hoping to pack one room, you’ve got a festival brand. People show up for “Mayhoots” and choose from options. One comic’s slow crowd doesn’t tank the night – there are 29 other shows happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For comedians, that’s freedom. You’re not carrying the burden of selling your own show alone. You’re part of something bigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Working comedians need guaranteed money. They took time off. They deserve to get paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Newer comedians want exposure. They’ll work for tips and the footage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mayhoots does both. Most festivals pick one model. This one doesn’t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Same for audiences. Not everyone has 15 euros. Some do. Some want to donate when they’re genuinely blown away by an act. That flexibility keeps people coming back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Festival founder Warren McIntyre opened submissions. They didn’t just call their friends. That means the lineup is mixed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ve got established acts like Edwin Sammon (RT\u00c9’s Bridget and Eamon) and Joe Rooney. But also Craig Moran, Funny Focail, Pat McDonnell – people who might not make the big festival rosters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That’s why audiences will actually show up. Variety beats predictability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don’t need a comedy club. You need a few bars that already exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t worry about:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Actually do:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n That’s it. Maynooth did it with four bars. Your city can do it with three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You book comedy. You know the problem: one show at one bar on a Friday night draws 20 people. Everyone else is home watching Netflix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But if people know four bars have comedy? They plan a night out. They bring friends. They go to two or three shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One show = 20 people. Festival with options = 80 people across the four venues, multiple nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That’s the actual math that makes this work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re a comedian:<\/strong> Apply to open-submission festivals. Stop waiting for connections to book you. Your material matters more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re a booker:<\/strong> Can you get three other venues and run a festival weekend? The Mayhoots model proves it works without massive budgets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you run a venue:<\/strong> Could you host comedy on a Friday or Saturday? Could you split promotion costs with other bars? Yes to both, probably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Big festivals are expensive. They require travel. You’ve got Edinburgh, Montreal, SXSW. Then basically nothing until the next big city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mayhoots proves you can run a real comedy festival in a small town with regular bars. That changes everything for booking, for audience reach, for comedians trying to build material outside the major hub cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your town could do this. That’s the model Mayhoots is testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out the lineup and grab tickets at maynoothcomedyfestival.com<\/a>. It’s April 24-25 in Maynooth, Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you book or run venues, watch how this goes. The secondary comedy circuit is about to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q: How is Mayhoots different from other festivals?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Four bars instead of one venue. Open applications instead of invitation-only lineups. Mix of ticketed and pay-what-you-wish shows. Designed to include newer comics and people on tighter budgets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q: Can I apply if I’m not famous?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes. That’s the point of open applications. They book based on your material, not your follower count. Check the website for submission info.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q: How do I start a festival like this where I live?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Get 3-4 bar owners on board. Pick a weekend. Create a name. Post an open submission form. Promote together. Split costs. Start with 10-15 shows, see what works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q: Is pay-what-you-wish worth it for comics?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Depends on the crowd. At a busy festival with foot traffic, PWYW can gross as much as ticketed shows. Good for exposure if you’re building material. Don’t rely on it as sole income, but it’s not worthless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q: Where’s the info?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nUsing Venues That Already Exist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
30+ Shows Means Multiple Audiences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Some Ticketed, Some Donation – Whatever Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Open Applications Mean Different Voices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How To Run This In Your Town<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
For Promoters: The Foot Traffic Problem Is Solved<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What To Do Next<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why This Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n