If you have ever watched Dara doing standup on TV then you know what to expect - gags aplenty, self-critical mirth, and a penchant to remind ourselves of why it is so funny being Irish, even in these hard times. And, of course, the audience interaction and banter for which he is famous.
This gig did not disappoint. Though slow to get going (we were commanded to go and get pissed during the interval), and with a sense of experimentation as opposed to polished finesse (this smaller tour in preparation for the larger, arena filling tour scheduled for Summer), it was nontheless a very funny evening, full of characteristic Dara charm.
Despite the fact I was in the front row, and therefore absolutely cacking myself that he would 'get me', he was great fun, full of energy, and with a razor sharp wit that was amazing to watch: he had a 'chat' with my dad for a long period and when dad made a silly error (you'd have to be there, but he basically claimed he could drive a 30 metre forklift - it should have been 30 ft) Dara seized this error and mocked him mercilessly for about 10 mins. Seriously, how can anyone make an innocuous story about forklift-driving funny??!!
But it was all in good taste, and though dad was a bit sore at being verbally mocked for a quarter hour, Dara made up for it by proclaiming him the 'hero' of the night - mockingly of course, but that hasn't stopped dad from telling every person he's met since.
All in all a great night out, fantastic recession-busting value at €30 a ticket regardless of where you sat, and highly recommended but a word of caution: if you are averse to interaction you are not safe anywhere in the first 5 rows; and if you are a religious person, then atheist Dara is not for you!