Barry Murphy
Who Barry Murphy is
Barry Murphy is an Irish comedian and broadcaster regarded as a pioneer of Irish comedy, called the godfather of Irish comedy for his part in Dublin's alternative scene. With Ardal O'Hanlon and Kevin Gildea he formed the group Mr Trellis, whose nights at the International Bar grew into the Comedy Cellar, the room that helped launch the Irish comedy boom of the 1990s, with Murphy as its compere.
He presented RTÉ's late-night show The End from 1993, created Couched (1998) and Soupy Norman (2007) with Mark Doherty, and compered RTÉ One's satirical panel show That's All We Have Time For. He is one third of Après Match, which began during Euro 96 and in which he plays Frank Stapleton and Liam Brady, and on stage he also performs as Günther, a German character who looks at what Irish society takes as normal.
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Is Barry Murphy on tour?
No upcoming dates on record No upcoming dates are on record right now. That doesn't mean Barry Murphy has stopped touring; follow Barry Murphy to hear when the next ones are booked.
Last checked 23 October 2026.
Is Barry Murphy coming to my town?
No dates are on record right now (checked 23 October 2026), so no town is confirmed yet. Follow Barry Murphy and your town to hear when one is booked.
Want Barry Murphy in your town?
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Lineups belong to the rooms and the comedians, and can change; each listing has the last word. Their nights on the Comedy Calendar → Build a night out with Barry Murphy →
Specials, shows and podcasts
On screen
- Après Match RTÉ
- The End RTÉ, presenter, from 1993
- Couched RTÉ, 1998
- Soupy Norman 2007
- That's All We Have Time For RTÉ One, compere
Comedians like Barry Murphy
Each linked to them by something on the record — a stage they both came through, a bill, a show, a style or a home town.
- Ari Shaffir also in The End
- Colum Tyrrell also in The End
- David Steinberg also in The End
Career timeline
- 1993The End (RTÉ, presenter, from 1993) On screen
- 1998Couched (RTÉ, 1998) On screen
- 2007Soupy Norman (2007) On screen
Questions and answers
Where is Barry Murphy performing next?
No date is on D.O.C.'s Comedy Calendar right now.
What TV shows and films are they in?
Après Match (RTÉ), The End (RTÉ, presenter, from 1993), Couched (RTÉ, 1998), Soupy Norman (2007) and That's All We Have Time For (RTÉ One, compere).
Who are some comedians like them?
Ari Shaffir (also in The End), Colum Tyrrell (also in The End) and David Steinberg (also in The End).
Are you Barry Murphy?
This page can be your website, free. Send your bio in your own words, your links, your clips, who books you, a line said about you and your weekly show, and they go on this page beside the dates D.O.C. already keeps. Fans follow you here and get your news in the D.O.C. letter.
Your short address, for your bio: disciplesofcomedy.com/barry-murphy
The full SUCDb record
The full record — the career in order, the specials and credits, and the sources for each — is on SUCDb, with a button to add them to your D.O.C., your twelve.
Sources
- Galway Comedy Festival ↗ A pioneer of Irish comedy; co-founded The International Comedy Club in Dublin with Ardal O'Hanlon and Kevin Gildea; one third of Après Match, playing Frank Stapleton and Liam Brady; the German character Günther; on the 2026 festival's stand-up bills on 21, 23 and 24 October 2026 (as of 19 October 2026)
- The Irish Times — The comedy don (2 January 2010) ↗ The godfather of Irish comedy for his work at the Comedy Cellar at the International Bar; Mr Trellis with Ardal O'Hanlon and Kevin Gildea; the Cellar's compere; Après Match from Euro 96; The End (RTÉ, 1993); Couched (1998) and Soupy Norman (2007) with Mark Doherty; compere of That's All We Have Time For (as of 19…
Updated 23 October 2026 · the record checked 19 October 2026