Funny Talk: Danny O’Brien

Pie in the sky…

Fresh from his Australian and South East Asian tours, plus a sell-out month-long run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, comedian Danny O’Brien is on something of a roll.

Which may explain why the cocky little fecker has decided to bring his new one-man show to Bray’s Hardy Har comedy club on Friday, May 11th. Even though he lives in the town.

Still, when your career is going into overdrive, it’s always sweet to give something back to the town that inspired you to see the twisted side of life in the first place.

After inheriting a broken-down and temperamental motorcycle, Danny decided to take to the road on a comedic expedition, the result being the recent Racon Tour, which charts his not-always-glorious adventures in the saddle.

Ahead of O’Brien headlining An Evening Of Extraordinary Ideas at The Whale on Saturday, November 17th, we asked Danny to let us know his comedy inspirations, and just how it was that he ended up in this ridiculous line of work…

I started stand up nearly ten years ago after working behind the bar at The Melbourne International Comedy as a back packer and I remember being incredibly inspired from some of the amazing performers I saw there, I’ve always been a life long comedy fan. Soon after I returned to Ireland and the recession was in full swing, I was working in a job I hated and things were pretty bleak, I decided to finally give the comedy stage a go and get a short set together, it went well and on my second gig I won a small open mic competition in Dublin, this really drove me forward and I haven’t been off the stage since!

Some of my first gigs were in The Hardy Har in The Harbour Bar in Bray – which just happens to be in one of my favourite pub’s in the world –  which I have some great memories from and still love to perform in. As someone who grew up in Wicklow, I have real affinity for the county, and so it’s still the biggest thrill, getting up on a stage here.

Even when there’s no one in the audience. 

My influences:

Steve Martin
We had a video tape of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in my house as a kid, I must have watched it a thousand times (along with Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory!). Steve Martin has alway been one of my favourites. I read his autobiography when I first started stand up and loved it – he changed the game in my humble opinion…

Leslie Nielsen
One of the greats, a powerhouse of a comedy actor. I love that Airplane! was his first comedy role after years of being a soap actor; he certainly found his calling after that. He was incredible…

Eddie Murphy
The king of live stand up, he was 22 when he made Delirious. To be that good at that age absolutely blows my mind, what a hero.

Musical Comedy
I’ve never been able to play an instrument and have always been in awe of anyone who can! I’ve loved and watched The Flight of The Conchords, Tim Minchin and Bo Burnam for years, it’s such a fun genre of comedy. I love seen random act’s I’ve never seen too. Found out about these guy’s when I was touring in Australia earlier this year, this video needs to be seen…

Bill Burr
The biggest influence of my comedy career, an incredible act who’s currently at the peak of his powers. I’ve been lucky enough to see him live several times and even meet him this year. All hail King Bill!

Danny O’Brien headlines The Whale’s An Evening Of Extraordinary Ideas on Saturday, November 17th.