This August, we're focused on all things Irish comedy on TikTok. We're placing a spotlight on some of the amazing Irish creators that share their humour on TikTok and put a smile on so many faces. We're kicking off this spotlight series by sitting down with @simonhennescenes on how he first got into comedy, the best thing about the Irish TikTok community and his plans for the rest of 2023!


How did you get into comedy, and what motivated you to share it on TikTok specifically?

A: As a natural attention seeker, comedy seemed the best way to annoy many people all at once, so it felt like a good fit. During lockdown, there was no way for me to do that face to face with people, so TikTok was the perfect place to force my face onto people’s phone screens. God bless the algorithm!

What do you love about the Irish TikTok community?

The Irish TikTok commenting community is very strong. A lot of the time I will see comments on my videos which are funnier than the videos themselves. Obviously I’ll delete them so I’m not outshone, but they still give me a good laugh - keep them coming guys!

What is your favourite TikTok you have made to date and why?

There are quite a few I really liked which got no response at all, and I’d love to obnoxiously choose one of them out of spite, but I’ll go with this trad music parody because it’s good Irish fun and also shows off that I am a great singer as well as being funny and attractive.

Which other TikTok creators inspire you?

Genuinely too many to name but a few big ones - @brianjordanalvarez is the funniest person on the internet; @janewickline, @carol.ine3 and @jackshepbaby are super idiosyncratic and hilarious; and then there are the many fab Irish ones like @justinestaffordcomedy, @killersundy, @theryancarrick, @seanburkeshow, @fionnualajay - I’ll stop naming them because a) I could go on and on and b) if I do they might all realise I’ve been stealing their ideas all along.

What is the best thing about being a TikTok comedy creator?

The money! Just kidding - it most certainly is not. It’s cool being able to meet and work with people who you are a fan of because they do the same thing. And it is also genuinely very nice when someone reaches out and says that the stuff you make has made a difference to them or helped them get through things. I’ll never understand how me doing a French accent or a goofy song can have that effect, but it is very very nice to hear.


@simonhennescenes Ou est Remy's legs #fyp #foryou #exam #comedy #french #lecture #autumn ♬ original sound - Simon Hennessy


What are your next steps in 2023 as a comedian?

It’s been a pretty busy year so far with live performances - I had my first tour with my solo show “Afters” in Ireland the UK, and some festival appearances too this summer - and I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in a few collaborative things that will be coming out later in the year. For now I’m looking forward to taking a bit of a break, then getting stressed that I’m taking a break because standing still is the same as going backwards and this life is all about the #grind. I’ll respond to this stress by throwing myself headfirst into obsessing about the next show/project/whatever and then repeat that cycle again and again forever more. I’ll also probably do some Spotify Wrapped content around Christmas, so stay tuned!