Cork woman is crowned as Ireland's Queen of Comedy

A Cork woman was crowned as Ireland's Queen of Comedy after winning a stand-up comedy competition on RTÉ’s Ray D'Arcy Show on Saturday night.

Sinéad Quinlan from Carrignavar, who works for Cork Simon Community, was voted funniest woman in Ireland by "Stand-up and be Funny" contest's panel of judges, beating two other female and one male comics.

Ms Quinlan, 26, who has been trying stand-up since October won the competition's Munster Heat in Cork's City Limits Comedy Club, earlier in November.

She told The Echo that she was thankful for the opportunity to compete alongside “other fantastic comedians”.

“I’m thrilled to have won and so grateful to RTÉ for giving me such an amazing opportunity,” she said.

Ms Quinlan scooped a €1,000 in cash and will be working on a comedy pilot with RTÉ Online as part of her prize. Last week’s contest was Ms Quinlan’s ninth comedy performance.

The Cork woman was discovered by Comedy trio The Hardy Bucks while speaking at a health and fitness event in Cork, earlier this year.

The group offered Ms Quinlan her first stand-up opportunity, inviting her to open one of their Cork shows at Wonky Donkey Comedy Club in October.

Stephen Kelly of The Hardy Bucks told The Echo that they knew from the start that Ms Quinlan had "what it takes to be a star in the comedy scene."

"She has a bright future and is a role model for up-and-coming comedians, male and female," Mr Kelly said.

Justine Stafford from Co Meath, Jasmin Gleeson from Co Dublin and Michael Rice from Co Kilkenny were other finalists of RTÉ’s comedy competition.

The contest’s judging panel included Barry Murphy, Emma Doran and Darren Smith.