Three sold-out shows for comedian in Cork's iconic 'Fireman's Rest' hut

Comedian John Spillane is set to perform three sold-out shows this week at the recently refurbished Fireman’s Rest as part of the annual Cork Fringe Festival.

Mr Spillane, a Limerick native, said he was looking for “outside-the-box" venues to perform at as part of this year’s celebration, with the five-person capacity hut serving as the perfect backdrop for his three improv performances.

The historic structure, which stood on Patrick’s Street for over a century, is now located outside the fire station on Anglesea Street following extensive restoration works, topping €400,000, undertaken by Cork City Council.

Mr Spillane’s shows will take place at the hut on Thursday from 6.30pm, running in quick succession with a 15-minute duration each.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Spillane said he is looking forward to performing in what he described as “low-key the best comedy city in the country”.

“I always love when I get the chance to do shows in outside-the-box venues, and that was the first thing I said to Cork Fringe when approaching them,” said Mr Spillane.

“They got back to me about the Fireman’s Rest, and I said that it sounded hilarious and would be perfect.

“I perform at clubs, pubs and theatres all the time, so it’s just fun to put comedy in a different place and have fun with the venue.

“The shows will be improvised stand up, so it’s about having the craic really and just seeing what happens,” he added.

“Anything and everything can happen. The fun is building the show with the audience and seeing where it takes us.

“Any time I’ve done shows like this before, they’ve been some of my favourites – last year, in Edinburgh, I did a show in a horse box for eight people, so I’m really excited to top myself with five people.

“I just want to offer something different - there’s loads of great comedy year-round in Cork, it might be low-key the best comedy city in the country, so when it comes to a fringe festival like this, it’s a great opportunity to give the people of Cork a fun time.

“Cork has a great comedy scene, spearheaded by fantastic comedians like Cornelius Patrick O’Sullivan and Chris Kent, and I’m buzzing to be a part of the fringe festival – there are a whole bunch of shows that I’ll be excited to pop around to.” 

Mr Spillane will also perform two shows in Elizabeth Fort at 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, with tickets still available for purchase via the Cork Fringe website.

Other shows taking place this week as part of the festival include a comedy clown show on the history of art by Charee Monroy at Dance Cork Firkin Crane, a dark theatre production entitled The Pigeon Factory by Aaron O'Neill and Oh!Scare Wilde Productions at the Granary Theatre, and a drag disco led by Dj Candy Warhol at The Pav.

For more information or the full line-up of events, visit: https://www.corkfringe.com/.