View source for David O'Doherty

{{Short description|Irish comedian}}
{{Convert to Episode table}}{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name              = David O'Doherty
| image             = David O'Doherty at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe-2 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize         = 
| caption           = O'Doherty at the 2025 [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]]
| pseudonym         = 
| birth_name        = David Nicholas Doherty<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/irish-comedians-have-the-last-laugh-20090416-a90i.html | title=Irish comedians have the last laugh }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/comedy-sanity-claws-h262wcwczg3 | title=Comedy: Sanity claws }}</ref>
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1975|12|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place       = [[Dublin]], Ireland
| education         = [[Trinity College Dublin]]
| death_date        = 
| death_place       = 
| medium            = Stand up, television
| nationality       = Irish
| active            = 1999–present
| genre             = [[Musical comedy]], [[Surreal humour]]
| subject           = 
| influences        = 
| influenced        = 
| spouse            = 
| domesticpartner   = 
| signature         = 
| website           = {{url|davidodoherty.com/}}
| footnotes         = 
}}

'''David Nicholas O'Doherty''' ({{IPAc-en|oʊ|ˈ|d|ɒ|h|ər|t|i}} or {{IPAc-en|oʊ|ˈ|d|ɒ|k|ər|t|i}}; born 18 December 1975)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.davidodoherty.com/ |title=Providing comedy solutions since late 1975 |publisher=Davidodoherty.com |access-date=21 August 2013}}</ref> is an Irish comedian, author, musician, actor and playwright and son of renowned jazz pianist [[Jim Doherty (musician)|Jim Doherty]]. His stand-up has won many international awards, including the [[if.comedy award]] in 2008<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7579339.stm|title=O'Doherty wins main Fringe award|date=23 August 2008|access-date=12 September 2008|publisher=BBC | first=Kevin | last=Young}}</ref> and Best International Comedian at the 2014 [[Sydney Comedy Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au/news-blog/sydney-comedy-festival-2014-award-winners.html|title=Winners of the 2014 Sydney Comedy Festival Awards|access-date=16 May 2016|archive-date=2 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602085552/http://www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au/news-blog/sydney-comedy-festival-2014-award-winners.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

O'Doherty has written several books, written two plays and released three comedy CDs. His latest book for children, ''Danger Is Everywhere'', illustrated by Chris Judge has been selected for the UNESCO Dublin, City of Literature Citywide Reading Campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dublincityofliterature.ie/danger-is-everywhere.html |title=Danger, Danger READ All About It! |access-date=9 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222123745/http://dublincityofliterature.ie/danger-is-everywhere.html |archive-date=22 February 2015 }}</ref> In 2015 it was published in 10 languages around the world.

He regards himself as "a failed jazz musician, scrambling about for something else to do with his life".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/comedy/4865933.print/|title=David O'Doherty, Hyena Lounge Comedy Club, City Screen, York, January 24|access-date=16 May 2016}}</ref>

==Early life==
O'Doherty's father is pianist [[Jim Doherty (musician)|Jim Doherty]]. His grandfather was Kevin O'Doherty, an Irish hurdles champion, and his great-grandfather was [[Séamus O'Doherty]], a head of the [[Irish Republican Brotherhood]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=David O’Doherty: ‘Sexual assault in Irish comedy … They’re not allegations … they happened’ |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/david-o-doherty-sexual-assault-in-irish-comedy-they-re-not-allegations-they-happened-1.4564241 |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> He is the youngest of three children and has an older brother and sister who are seven and eight years older than him, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=David O’Doherty: ‘Sexual assault in Irish comedy … They’re not allegations … they happened’ |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/david-o-doherty-sexual-assault-in-irish-comedy-they-re-not-allegations-they-happened-1.4564241 |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>

He studied philosophy at [[Trinity College Dublin]], where he was a member of the Jazz Society and a fake Breakdancing Society.<ref>{{Cite web |title=David O’Doherty: ‘Sexual assault in Irish comedy … They’re not allegations … they happened’ |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/david-o-doherty-sexual-assault-in-irish-comedy-they-re-not-allegations-they-happened-1.4564241 |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> It's also where his comedy career began. "I spent a lot of my time introducing things", he says, "concerts and bands, that sort of thing". "I remember my brother once bet me I couldn't get the word 'spaghetti' into an introduction for a piano recital in the Edmund Burke so I stood up and said 'my brother has bet me I can't say the word spaghetti' and I got a laugh."<ref>{{cite web |date=20 February 2012 |title=FAQs for D.O'D (frequently asked questions for David O'Doherty) |url=http://trinitynews.ie/faqs-for-d-od-frequently-asked-questions-for-david-odoherty/ |access-date=16 May 2016 |work=Trinity News – Ireland's Oldest Student Paper}}</ref>

==Comedic career==
[[File:David O'Doherty.jpg|thumb|O'Doherty in 2009]]
O'Doherty worked in a bicycle shop and in [[telemarketing]] and [[Temporary work|temping]] before he made his first stage appearance at Dublin's [[International Comedy Cellar|Comedy Cellar]] in 1998.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/odoherty-scoops-top-edinburgh-comedy-award-1462478.html|title=O'Doherty scoops top Edinburgh comedy award|date=25 August 2008|access-date=12 September 2008|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref> His first full show was ''The Story of the Boy Who Saved Comedy'' which received a nomination for Perrier Best Newcomer when it was performed at [[Edinburgh Fringe]]. In 2006, he was nominated for an [[if.comedy award]] for his Edinburgh show, ''David O'Doherty Is My Name''. O'Doherty has performed at festivals across the world in locations that include Adelaide, Melbourne, Montreal, New York City and Wellington NZ, Moscow and Iceland. As a support act he first toured Ireland with [[Tommy Tiernan]], the United Kingdom with [[Rich Hall]] and the United States with [[Demetri Martin]].<ref>[http://www.irish-comedy.com/davidodoherty/index.htm David O'Doherty] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908071833/http://www.irish-comedy.com/davidodoherty/index.htm |date=8 September 2008 }} at irish-comedy.com</ref>

In August 2008, O'Doherty won the If.comedy award at the Edinburgh Fringe for his show ''Let's Comedy'', which featured "a [[Intimate relationship|relationship]] in text messages, tunes played on a 3ft electronic keyboard, and a [[badger]] attack".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre/news/utterly-delightful-david-odoherty-wins-edinburghs-top-comedy-award-907304.html|title='Utterly delightful' David O'Doherty wins Edinburgh's top comedy award|date=24 August 2008|access-date=12 September 2008|newspaper=[[The Independent]] | location=London | first=Senay | last=Boztas}}</ref> He was presented with the 2008 Intelligent Finance Comedy Award<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/irish-comedian-wins-uk-comedy-prize-1462313.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802194207/http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/irish-comedian-wins-uk-comedy-prize-1462313.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 August 2012 |title=Irish comedian wins UK comedy prize |date=24 August 2008 |access-date=12 September 2008 |newspaper=[[Irish Independent]] }}</ref> and a cheque for £8,000 (€10,000)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/4722337.html|title=David O'Doherty claims top Edinburgh comedy award|date=25 August 2008|access-date=12 September 2008|magazine=[[Hot Press (magazine)|Hot Press]]}}</ref> by the previous winner [[Brendon Burns (comedian)|Brendon Burns]] and the Australian author and television presenter [[Clive James]].

== Television career ==
In June 2012 he became the first Irish comedian to have their own ''Comedy Central Presents'' episode on American television.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cc.com/episodes/dv4c6u/the-half-hour-david-o-doherty-season-1-ep-102|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101065314/http://www.cc.com/episodes/dv4c6u/the-half-hour-david-o-doherty-season-1-ep-102|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 November 2014|title=David O'Doherty|work=Comedy Central|access-date=16 May 2016}}</ref>

In May 2007, O'Doherty's first [[TV series]], ''The Modest Adventures of David O'Doherty'', began airing on [[RTÉ Two]]. The six-part series was directed by [[John Carney (director)|John Carney]], following the completion of his [[Academy Award]]-[[Academy Award for Best Original Song|winning]] film ''[[Once (film)|Once]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/modestadventures/ |title=The Modest Adventures of David O'Doherty @ www.rte.ie |publisher=RTÉ |access-date=21 August 2013}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:98%;"
|-
! # !! Title
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber       = 1
| Title               = Galway
| ShortSummary        = David attempts to cycle from [[Dublin]] to [[Galway]], for a show later that night. He quits 100 kilometres from his destination.
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber       = 2
| Title               = 27
| ShortSummary        = David attempts to have "a minor hit", preferably charting at number 27. His song "[[Orange (song)|Orange]]" instead reaches number 30, losing the number 27 spot in the [[Irish Singles Chart]] to [[Jibbs]]'s "[[Chain Hang Low]]".
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber       = 3
| Title               = Job
| ShortSummary        = David tries to make his rent. A number of strategies are employed for this end; these include: betting money on a game of golf he plays with his nephew (and losing); betting money at a dog track (and losing); attempting to sell an office chair he found in a skip (and eventually making €1.70 on the sale); trying to find a job where he states in an interview that he can touch-type at around 40 words per minute. He turned down a telemarketing placement; and eventually acting as an assistant to his neighbour Bryan, whose work involved erecting signs about planning permission, leading to a string of jokes concerning erections. He eventually earned the €260 through the latter.
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber       = 4
| Title               = Tour
| ShortSummary        = David does a stand-up tour which he has t-shirts printed for. One show is for children. He does a gig at Vicar Street (a 1200 seater venue), but due to it being cancelled and re-instated repeatedly only about 20 people attend. The t-shirts do not arrive until after the tour has finished and are too small.
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber       = 5
| Title               = Movie
| ShortSummary        = David tries to make a short film. The film is to be about [[Ernest Shackleton]]'s reasons for trekking to the Antarctic and heavily features penguins. He sneaks his crew into Dublin Zoo dressed in clothes of an 1800s style. Due to too many people walking into frame, he opts to acquire a penguin elsewhere in Dublin. This proves to be a difficult task with O'Doherty eventually buying an inflatable penguin on eBay for €35. The inflatable is blown away by the wind. O'Doherty subsequently dresses up to play the part of the penguin. The film premieres in a local pub during the half-time of a football match on TV. The film's plotline goes as follows: Shackleton's blocks are knocked over by bullies, one of whom has a picture of a penguin on his shirt. His girlfriend breaks up with him at the penguin enclosure at the zoo. The penguins seem to mock him. His parents choke on [[Penguin (biscuit)|Penguin]] chocolate biscuits. He goes to the Antarctic. He shoots a penguin. There is no applause for his film, however there is a cheer when the match is put back on.

This episode is dedicated to O'Doherty's friend's pet kitten, Tony, who appeared in the episode and died in 2007.
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber       = 6
| Title               = Live
| ShortSummary        = David attempts to record a comedy CD. The CD is recorded in his one-room apartment. He then advertises the gig on [[ISO 216|A4-sized]] [[poster]]s, asking to be contacted via e-mail if anyone is interested in coming to the show. Upwards of 30 chairs are squeezed into the apartment.
}}
|}

==Literary career==
O'Doherty has written widely for newspapers and magazines and also has two plays, two books and a [[Radio drama|radio series]] to his name. His debut book was a children's book entitled ''Ronan Long Gets It Wrong'', written in 2000. It was illustrated by [[David Roberts (illustrator)|David Roberts]] and published by Mammoth Storybooks.<ref>{{cite book|title=''Ronan Long Gets it Wrong'' @ |id={{ASIN|0749744502|country=uk}} }}</ref> 
His first play is entitled ''Saddled'' and was written with Bryan Quinn. It was claimed as "the world's first theatrical production to feature live repair of audience members' bicycles". In 2008, he and fellow Irish comedian [[Maeve Higgins]] performed ''I Can't Sleep'', a play recommended for children aged 5–8. This was O'Doherty's first play for children. The play, which involved the audience entering the theatre to find both performers asleep in separate beds, was performed in both Dublin and [[Edinburgh]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Radcliffe |first=Allan |url=http://www.list.co.uk/article/11691-i-cant-sleep-by-david-odoherty/ |title=I Can't Sleep |publisher=The List |date=14 August 2008 |access-date=21 August 2013}}</ref>

He has also written a series for [[RTÉ Radio]] about [[bee]] detectives with his brother Mark, entitled ''The Bees of Manulla''. O'Doherty released a book detailing 100 false facts about [[Giant panda|panda]]s called ''100 Facts About Pandas''. He followed this up with ''100 Facts About Sharks'' which is 100 false facts about [[shark]]s. In 2014 he and illustrator, Chris Judge, released a children's book, ''Danger Is Everywhere: A Handbook for Avoiding Danger''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Danger Is Everywhere: A Handbook for Avoiding Danger: Amazon.co.uk: David O'Doherty, Chris Judge: 9780141354156: Books|id={{ASIN|0141354151|country=uk}}}}</ref>

==Personal life==
O'Doherty is an avid cyclist and owns, as of 2025, 18 bicycles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WDWDY #8: The Diablo Bros |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/6JuYGQDwkmFVXYVKhCEaiw?si=5khzcmgRQi6uTjZrZ7SLow |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=Spotify |language=en}}</ref> He has also stated publicly that he has never once eaten a turnip, and anyone who states otherwise will face legal ramifications.<ref>{{Cite web |title=David O’Doherty: ‘Achill is my favourite place on earth... a weird place in an apocalypse’ |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/david-o-doherty-achill-is-my-favourite-place-on-earth-a-weird-place-in-an-apocalypse-1.4210993 |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> O'Doherty is a supporter of [[Tottenham Hotspur]]. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Episode 1476: “Spursy” – A Potted History, With Celebrity Tottenham Hotspur Fan, David O’Doherty |url=https://www.secondcaptains.com/2019/05/24/episode-1476-spursy-a-potted-history-with-celebrity-tottenham-hotspur-fan-david-odoherty |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=Second Captains |language=en}}</ref>

==Filmography==
In 2008, O'Doherty starred alongside comedian [[Dylan Moran]], [[Keith Allen (actor)|Keith Allen]] and [[Neil Jordan]] in ''[[A Film with Me in It]]'', a cinematic release written by and starring his brother Mark Doherty.<ref>{{IMDb title|1139319|A Film With Me in It}}</ref>

===Edinburgh Fringe shows===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
|-
| 2000 
| ''David O'Doherty: The Boy Who Saved Comedy''
|-
| 2002 
| ''David O'Doherty: Small Things'' 
|-
| 2003 
| ''David O'Doherty Creates Something New Under The Sun''
|-
| 2004 
| ''David O'Doherty in World Champion of Some Things'' 
|-
| 2005 
| ''David O'Doherty: Grown Up'' 
|-
| 2006 
| ''David O'Doherty Is My Name'' 
|-
| 2007 
| ''It's David O'Doherty Time'' 
|-
| 2008 
| ''David O'Doherty: Let's Comedy''
|-
| 2009
| ''David O'Doherty: David O' Doh-party''
|-
| 2010
| ''David O'Doherty: Somewhere Over The David O'Doherty'' 
|-
| 2011
| ''David O'Doherty Is Looking Up'' 
|-
| 2011
| ''David O'Doherty presents: Rory Sheridan's Tales of the Antarctica'' 
|-
| 2012
| ''Seize the David O'Doherty (Carpe D'O'Diem)''
|-
| 2013
| ''David O'Doherty Will Try to Fix Everything''
|-
| 2014
| ''David O'Doherty Has Checked Everything''
|-
| 2015
| ''David O'Doherty: We Are All in the Gutter, But Some of Us Are Looking at David O'Doherty''
|-
| 2016
| ''David O'Doherty: Big Time''
|-
| 2017
| ''David O'Doherty: Big Time''
|-
| 2018
| ''David O'Doherty: You Have To Laugh''
|-
| 2019
| ''David O'Doherty: Ultrasound''
|-
| 2022
| ''David O'Doherty: whoa, is me''
|-
| 2023
| ''David O'Doherty: Tiny Piano Man''
|-
| 2024
| ''David O'Doherty: Ready, Steady, David O'Doherty''
|-
| 2025
| ''David O'Doherty: Highway to the David Zone''
|-
|}

===Awards and nominations for stand-up comedy===
O'Doherty has been decorated with numerous awards for his achievements in comedy. In 1999, he won the [[Channel 4]] [[So You Think You're Funny]] Comedy Competition at the [[Edinburgh Fringe]] and was also a finalist in the [[BBC New Comedy Awards]] in the same year.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lister |first=David |date=25 August 2008 |title=David O'Doherty wins top award for his 'delightful' Edinburgh show |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/specials/edinburgh/article4602506.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616123303/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/specials/edinburgh/article4602506.ece |archive-date=16 June 2011 |access-date=12 September 2008 |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London}}</ref> He eventually won the [[If.comedy award|if.comedy Award]] (formerly the Perrier Award) in 2008 for ''Let's Comedy''.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 August 2008 |title=David does it! |url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2008/08/24/7289/david_does_it%21 |access-date=12 September 2008 |publisher=[[Chortle]]}}</ref> He was also nominated for the Barry Award at the [[Melbourne International Comedy Festival]] in 2006<ref>{{cite web |title=Some facts about David O'Doherty |url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/modestadventures/about.html |access-date=21 August 2013 |publisher=RTÉ}}</ref> and in 2014 received the award for Best International Comedian at the Sydney Comedy Festival.<ref>{{cite web |title=Winners of the 2014 Sydney Comedy Festival Awards |url=http://www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au/news-blog/sydney-comedy-festival-2014-award-winners.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602085552/http://www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au/news-blog/sydney-comedy-festival-2014-award-winners.html |archive-date=2 June 2016 |access-date=16 May 2016}}</ref>

{{awards table}}
|-
| 1999 || [[Edinburgh Fringe]] || [[Channel 4]] [[So You Think You're Funny]] Comedy Competition winner || {{won}}
|-
| 1999 ||  || [[BBC New Comedy Awards]] || {{nom|2nd}}
|-
| 2000 ||  || Perrier Best Newcomer Award || {{nom}}
|-
| 2003 ||  || ''[[Hot Press]]'' Irish Comedian of the Year || {{won}}
|-
| 2006 || ''David O'Doherty is My Name'' || [[If.comedy award]] || {{nom}}
|-
| 2006 || ''David O'Doherty is My Name'' || [[Barry Award (for comedy)|Barry Award]] at the [[Melbourne International Comedy Festival]] || {{nom}}
|-
| 2008 || ''Let's Comedy'' || [[If.comedy award]] || {{won}}
|-
| 2014 || ''David O’Doherty Will Try To Fix Everything'' || Best International Comedian Sydney Comedy Festival Awards || {{won}}
{{end}}

==Discography==
O'Doherty has also released five live audio albums, ''Giggle Me Timbers (or Jokes Ahoy!)'', recorded in front of 35 people in his studio apartment and ''Let's David O'Doherty'' (2009), ''We Are Not The Champions'' (2012) and ''You Only Live'' (2015) recorded at Whelan's in Dublin.<ref name="David O'Doherty show in Whelan's">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hotpress.com/David%20O%27Doherty/news/David%20O%27Doherty%20show%20in%20Whelan%27s/5735216.html|title=David O'Doherty show in Whelan's|date=31 July 2009|access-date=3 August 2009|magazine=[[Hot Press]]}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Peak chart position
|-
|2007 
|"[[Orange (song)|Orange]]" 
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} No. 30
|-
|2009 
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20100218131339/http://comedyshop.ie/product.php?id=27&from=comedy-cds-category.php ''Let's David O'Doherty'']
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} 
|-
|2012 
|[http://davidodoherty.bandcamp.com/album/we-are-not-the-champions'' We Are Not The Champions'']
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} 
|-
|2015 
|[http://davidodoherty.bandcamp.com/album/you-only-live ''You Only Live'']
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} 
|-

|2020 
|[http://davidodoherty.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-his-own-car-during-a-pandemic ''Live In His Own Car During A Pandemic'']
| style="text-align:center;"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} 
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* [http://www.davidodoherty.com/ Official site]
* {{IMDb name|id=2147918|name=David O'Doherty}}
* [http://www.rte.ie/tv/modestadventures/ ''Modest Adventures''] at [[RTÉ]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090111062252/http://www.rte.ie/about/pressreleases/2007/0429/summerscheduleapr07.html RTÉ press release]
* {{British Comedy Guide|people|david_odoherty}}

<!--Please do not include religious categories in articles about living people. They are not to be included unless relevant to their public lives-->

{{Edinburgh Comedy Award winners}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Odoherty, David}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Irish comedy musicians]]
[[Category:Irish male comedians]]
[[Category:Irish stand-up comedians]]
[[Category:Musicians from County Dublin]]
[[Category:People educated at St Michael's College, Dublin]]
[[Category:Comedians from Dublin (city)]]
[[Category:O'Doherty family]]