Like sex, everybody treats comedy a bit differently but with less mess, misplaced fruit and more laughs. Anyway, ahem, Dublin has a damn fine comedy shindig coming up in July that might also get a little messy, looking at the line-up at any rate. Running from Thursday 22nd - Sunday 25th July, the Carlsberg Comedy Carnival is four days of mirthful mayhem, featuring the cream of comedians, new and not so new to the scene.

Ticket prices cover each headliner's show (with able support) and are mostly €29.50 (unless stated below). The Thursday and Friday events begin at 6.30pm and the weekend gates open at 2.00pm and there are four different tents or stages to choose from. There are no day or weekend tickets, just the €29.50 ones, but it is quite a line-up.

Thursday's big guns include "The Thick of It" star Chris Addison (with Reggie Watts), Jason Byrne (with Bo Burnham), PJ Gallagher (with Jim Jefferies) and Maeve Higgins (with Arj Barker) - see it's not too shabby is it? Friday is also rather hilarious (in a good way) with Ardal O'Hanlon (with Emo Philips) and Reginald D Hunter (with Natasha Leggero), plus a further appearance by Chris Addison and Reggie Watts throughout the evening.

But it's the weekend when the programme really ramps up. Once again a few of Thursday's and Friday's comedians play a slot on the Saturday and/or Sunday, giving you the chance to pick your preferred time and date for them, plus the added attractions of Tommy Tiernan, Phill Jupitus and Josie Lawrence improv-show (one-off appearance for "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" here), Jason Manford and Karl Spain on the Saturday.

Sunday is a re-jigged version of the previous few days' entertainers. Of note as well is Après Match, the famous RTE show that gently mocks home-grown pundits and celebrities - a version of the panel will be appearing throughout the weekend. Oh, and there will be beer I imagine [d'ya reckon it'll be Castlemaine XXXX? - dumb Ed].