Brónagh NicAoidh: Auntie-Oh Pod, The Laugh Chapel & Top Trumps?

The West Belfast comedian started back in 2019 but it’s only been within the last year that she has made it a consistent career while she balances her full time engineering career.

Brónagh's relatively new comedy career is one to watch in the NI scene as she's making a name for herself with the help of her podcast with fellow comedian & best mate Jazmynne Sierra.

The Auntie-Oh Podcast started just last year & the best mates are excited in the direction it's going.

"When we first started out we were recording it in the back bedroom of my house & that was just not working. We're now working with 1620 Productions who's recording it & doing the sound for it. Then it will still be me & Jazz editing & posting it ourselves.

Every week we're learning from every episode we record. We're a lot more stable & assured on the content/guests & format of the podcast. I think it has the potential to only get better.

Now with the production company we're working with, we're more settled into the rhythm of it so it should be a lot more consistent & high quality."

"I be scundered at the sets, the thing in the background is just a printed on flag over a canvas that was out of the Range but we're moving to a new studio so we can't invest in the proper set. Jazz is very positive & focused on people wanting to see the journey so that's quite cool as well."

The girls have already started to break moulds within the local podcast scene (in which there's a few) & have integrated mini series' into the podcast which looks set to continue this coming year.

"Last year we did 'Would You Date My Mate?', I was really happy with the idea of it but it's something we've learned from in regards to quality of the output. 

We do intend to have a couple of mini series this year.

We have loads planned for the next couple of months which will probably be out on the Auntie-Oh Instagram & our own personal Instagrams." (All linked at the bottom of this article).

The Podcast originated from the friends' overlapping historical similarities from their otherwise very different backgrounds as they discuss such topics in a comedic style as two women in comedy.

While other comics may see the NI Comedy scene's booming rise as a self centred financial gain, Brónagh has created a great way to try & maximise the potential for good from her growing success.

In August of last year she created her very own comedy club, 'The Laugh Chapel' in Voodoo, Belfast.

"I started comedy in Voodoo's open mic night which I think is one of the longest running in Belfast, it's on every Thursday but more-so for musical acts.

I always wanted to start a comedy club in there & I'm into my charity work so I thought those two went hand in hand so made it a little bit different than a lot of comedy clubs in Belfast. A wee quarterly comedy club is just what the scene in Belfast needed in my opinion."

The Laugh Chapel's proceeds go towards a different charity every gig which very much so makes it the 'most charitable gig in Belfast'. 

Brónagh's keen to ensure she can help raise funds in many different ways each gig including merch, raffles & some great & clever marketing.

"I've been motivated by how competitive the scene is so I really want it to be a success. The merchandise is just an extra revenue stream to gain some more funds for the charities. I pay for all the merchandise out of pocket & everything I earn from that goes back into the charity.

Also the logo; my tattooist Brónach she's up in Urban Ink in the Falls, she designed The Laugh Chapel skeleton I thought it was a cool design & looked cool on shirts so it all organically came together."

One of her most recent marketing tactics to push her upcoming Laugh Chapel gig was placing local comedian top trumps in different areas around Belfast to help stand out.

It's very unique & really helps them stand out that interaction with the public one I think is a great idea.

"I couldn't even name all the clubs in Belfast let alone in the North in general so it's just a thing to get more interactive with the audience. Reels on Instagram, even though I'm not very 'socialmediay' (I think that's the profressional term), I just gave it a bash & the reels seem to do really well so what can I do here to gain more of an audience & let people know about the club in Voodoo.

So far they have already raised fund for the domestic abuse charities, the homeless, this ones for the South West Belfast Food Bank & the next one's going to be for mental health charities, probably for 'Aware'.

"The domestic abuse night was very successful. The opening night of any comedy club is going to be the most successful but it's a charity very close to me & I'm very supportive about women's services & domestic abuse services in the north.

I didn't want to keep doing the same one so that's why we change it up.

Also, the logo changes every time we support a different charity to align with the charity we're working for which is a little Easter egg. I don't think people have noticed that they just think I'm indecisive."

It's not just charities that are benefiting from the comedy rise in the north as Brónagh seeks to share the comedians fortunes with other art forms. As Voodoo is predominantly a music-centric space Brónagh has a local musician open on the night to help provide a platform for them too, not only the local comics.

If a night of music & comedy in aid of charity isn't enough for you then what about that nostalgic feeling of a good raffle? Some would call it the trifecta of a perfect night of entertainment.

"The raffle is another way for us to gain some more money for charity. I just go around Belfast & tell people it's a comedy gig for charity & they're very keen to donate which is really cool. It's usually the local business that are so game for donating & providing some services. I try to put as much effort into promoting them on the Instagram page & on the night too because it blows my mind how generous people can be."

The upcoming Laugh Chapel is on April 4th at 7pm in Voodoo Bar with a great line-up including Dave Elliott, Ruairi Woods & Brónagh Diamond.

What is your favourite venue to play?

"The Laugh Chapel of course but in terms of more regular spots it definitely has to be The Sunflower Comedy Club. The room is just perfect & Darren Matthews who runs the place is so organised & efficient & the crowd are always amazing.

One room that surprised me that I've done a few times, MC'd it a couple of weeks ago, is Bad Otter in the Ivy Bar in Newtonards. That is a stellar gig, the crowd are completely up for the craic."

What's the best venue you've played?

"Genuinely is The Laugh Chapel because obviously it's my club but also I frequent Voodoo quite a lot. I've been drinking there for 8/9 years so I know a lot of the people like the bouncers & staff who are all amazing.

Because a lot of people wouldn't expect it to be a comedy club in there it's a lot of their first times going. So getting to go experience & mould them to be good/cool comedy fans is really cool too."

What would be the best venue in the UK you've played?

"Me & Jazz, well I'm definitely, I'm not sure if Jazz is going to have the time, but I'm planning on doing a little bounce around a lot of the clubs in Scotland & England in the summer. 

That time in Hot Water was great because its for comedy by design which i think is something Belfast is really lacking. Hot Water Comedy Club is a purpose-built space, low ceilings & dark with the audience completely surrounding you. The stage is really low so you're amidst the crowd nearly, it's a fantastic club so Hot Water would be my immediate answer."

What would be your dream venue to play?

"I don't want stardom or fame or anything like that when it comes to the comedy. There's a bit in my set where I talk about being as famous as the faces outside the Royal - like you have a little bit of notoriety & they recognise you from somewhere. Like I said I started doing comedy in Voodoo, a very humble audience but I would love to consistently have Laugh Chapel going & it be filled to the rafters every time with a good grassroots sort of audience.

I feel like my answer could change every time you ask it but I feel where I'm at now I would just love to do a gig or have my name up on a poster & people to go 'I know I'm going to have a good night if I go to this gig & Brónagh NicAoidh's on the poster'."

Who would be your favourite comedian?

"I do love local comedy. I was recently doing the videos for Comedy Hub NI for the Comedian of the Year Awards & Eamon McElwee who's a comedian up in Strabane; him & Ro Boyle are like a double act. 

They are absolutely fantastic.

They are what I strive to be. Solid, reliable - they are absolutely headliners for sure but you see their name on a poster like Ro Boyle doing The Boiler Room & it's guaranteed to be a class night. It's a lot of people's favourite venue, I'm not booked to do it until the summer but I can't wait."

What was your worst ever gig?

"I'm not sure because the style of comedy I do is very roll with the punches. I think the worst gig for me is the one where it's a really small room, there's not too many people in the audience because I like a wee bit of rowdiness, a bit of winding up & messing about. I lean on the crowd quite a lot, its very much involved in the act.

We did a gig, I'll not name it, but we did an outdoor gig in the middle of the day. We weren't the main thing going on there so it's very hard because you're not only going against all the rules of comedy by it being so bright & opened space but we were kind of trying to beg people to turn around. There wasn't any seats so trying to just get people's attention."

Who would you say is the most underrated comedian here in the NI scene?

"Two come to mind, it would be Luke McGibbon who I feel like a lot of people would've said. When it comes to his writing & his delivery of his jokes it's unbelievable - he is a fantastic, talented, skilled genius of a comedian.

The other is Eamon McElwee who I think he's only been doing stand up for 4 or 5 years. I feel like he should be on the Apollo he is fantastic.

It's the uplifting people that make the comedy community a community like the likes of Luke & obviously Jazz when it comes to a mentor/supportive role Jazz is so knowledgeable about comedy & writing jokes. She did comedy over in America for 5 years before she came over here so everything she knew about it would've been different to what I knew. As a mentor & who make the comedy scene what it is; Jazz & Luke are both fantastic & the ideal people to surround yourself with. I've been very lucky to have them as well. 

There's a real difference between the scene here even to the scene in Dublin or Liverpool etc there's a lot more of a nurturing, uplifting scene here because of these people."

What would be the goal for 2 years time?

"I started in 2019 but I only made my comedy Instagram profile last April so technically I've only been doing this for less than a year. In that time I've had so many opportunities & stuff can flip on its head overnight, one clip could make you go viral. In two years time I'd like to be in that position where maybe a few more people know who I am, the Laugh Chapel is more of a household name & the Auntie-Oh Podcast is more consistent & reliable with people actually listening to it. We are earning a little bit already. 

Last week we missed an episode due to issues with the sound but multiple people approached me & Jazz & was like where is the episode & I didn't expect that because I didn't think anyone would really notice but they did.

A continuation of the organic growth I've already had would be great."

Polly Pineapple or Pear Picking Porky?

"Oh why you coming in with the hardest question at the end?! That's a good question.

A Pear Picking Porky.

Pineapple is class, probably is my favourite fruit but a pear picking porky just has something about it. Pure nostalgia."

Thanks to Brónagh for the interview, was great to talk to yet another genuine person in the comedy scene here. Can 100% see why her & Jazmynne are as close as they are & why their podcast works so well. Not only are they both very talented comics but both very genuine & charitable people who want to give back to their own communities.

Make sure you go give support to The Laugh Chapel this April 4th if you can & check out more gigs of Brónagh's if you see her name on any posters coming up.

Upcoming Gigs:

29th March - Craic House Comedy, Dundela Social Club

4th April - The Laugh Chapel, Voodoo