Comedy Cavern - Weekly Stand-Up at Coughlan's Cork

What to Expect

Comedy Cavern is a weekly stand-up night in the back room of Coughlan’s, a well-known live music venue on Douglas Street in Cork city centre. The format mixes open mic slots with a headline act or two, and the venue markets itself as “Cork’s most intimate comedy club,” with a track record of hosting acts including Neil Delamere, Joanne McNally and Des Bishop before they were household names. Doors open at 8:30pm with the show starting shortly after, and the room’s small scale means there is rarely much distance between the audience and the stage.

Each week’s line-up is different: recent and upcoming bills through August 2026 have included an open mic night with Thomas Lawrance, a set from Mumbai-born comedian Maanadh, a night with UK act Test Tube Babies, a showcase from Sadhbh McLoughlin, and a night with Aidan Kelly and guests, so the exact comedians on any given Tuesday vary considerably. Because the format leans on open mic slots alongside booked acts, it is also one of the few rooms in Cork where newer comedians regularly get stage time in front of a paying crowd, which gives the night a rawer, more unpredictable energy than a fully scripted club show.

Coughlan’s itself is better known as a live music venue, with a strong track record of hosting touring bands and traditional sessions through the week, so Comedy Cavern’s Tuesday slot sits alongside a busy wider programme rather than being the venue’s only draw.

Good to Know

• Weekly on Tuesdays, doors 8:30pm, show around 9pm; Coughlan’s, Douglas Street, Cork city centre.
• Free entry, run on a pay-what-you-think basis at the end of the night, so bring some cash for the collection.
• Line-up changes weekly; check Coughlan’s website or Pure Cork’s listings for the specific comedians on before you go.

Getting There

Coughlan’s is on Douglas Street, a short walk south of the city centre and close to Cork’s South Parish area, within easy reach of the main Bus Eireann and Cork City bus routes through the city. It is a walkable distance from Patrick Street and the South Mall for anyone spending the evening in town beforehand.