Kilkenomics

If ever there was a festival that was hard to categorise this has to be it – it’s an event that unlikely as it sounds combines comedy and economics. Or maybe that’s not so unlikely.

The economic element is not light weight either, there are some well known names and some serious heavy hitters on the programme. Each event sees a mix of economists and those who report on economics take to the stage together for a discussion moderated by a comedian, with much audience participation involved also.

Among the big names on the programme are Max Keiser, a former Wall Stree who has made quite an impact as a TV economics commentator, George Anders, author and commentator on the US economy and Heiner Flassbeck, chief economist at the United Nations Agency for World Trade and Development.

Other familiar names and faces include David McWilliams, who was the first person to call out the Irish boom for the bubble it was, Faisel Islan, from Channel  new and Matina Stevis is a financial journalist for Dow Jones and regular contributer to RTE news.

The comedians who will attempt to moderate these heavy hitters include Eleanor Tiernan, Colm O’Regan, David O’Doherty and Des Bishop.

In honour of the event Kikenny will have its very own currency for the weekend. The Marble will trade 1:1 with the euro, except you’ll get discounts when you spend it. Hopefully it’ll survive the weekend without crisis.

This video will give you a taste of what the whole thing is about.

Event information and Location Map

Most events take place in the Set Theatre at Langtons (A) on John St or the Ormonde Hotel (B). There are also events in Cleere’s Theatre (C) and the Hole in the Wall(D) and the Pembroke Hotel (E).

Information and tickets at the Kilkenomics website.