Funny Talk: John Colleary

On a Colleary day…

e may describe himself as “a big hairy culchie”, but there’s a lot more to John Colleary than meets the eye.

As anyone who has ever seen The Savage Eye will attest.

There’s a lot to be said for looking like Pat Shortt’s slightly simpler little brother, especially when there’s a mischievous comic brain behind that potato-faced pout.

From TV comedy classics such as The Savage Eye, Irish Pictorial Weekly and Bridget & Eamon to dramas like the recent so-so Ken Loach outing Jimmy’s Hall, Colleary has proven himself to be far smarter than your average culchie.

And if you’re still in doubt about John’s big, hairy comic prowess, you can catch the man himself in action at The Harbour Bar on Thursday, February 11th as part of The Bray Comedy Festival 2026.

Or you can just take a gander as his line-up of comedy inspirations…

The Young Ones (BBC TV 1982-1984)
While freeloading BBC via an aerial in the attic i came across this mob. Really like the slapstick nature of it. Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson were class in this . First episode is Demolition, which says it all.

Foster Brooks Roasts Don Rickles
This guy gave up booze when he was 50 and then did this.

The Comic Strip: Five Go Mad…
So much great stuff in this series. Five Go Mad In Dorset was a favourite. Loved Supergrass too.

Absolutely (TV sketch show/1989)
A mostly Scottish sketch show from the early 90s. Short-lived, but very good.

Rab C Nesbitt On The Dole
Did like this too from same era as Absolutely. Some classic stuff. Need your Glasgow ears on to understand it.

Richard Pryor
This man was a legend.

Team America: World Police (2004)
Quite uncanny that in the first scene of this movie Paris gets wrecked. Great film.

This post originally appeared on July 18th 2016. You can catch John Colleary’ with Sophia Wren on Thursday, February 11th 2026 at The Harbour Bar – tickets here.