Padraic O'Connor talks to a still slightly jetlagged Adam Hills about the Cat Laughs festival, catching up with friends and his penchant for "getting drunk on laughter".

Adam Hills has achieved international acclaim as one of the world's best stand up comics. His combination of positive, uplifting comedy and rampant spontaneity has seen him receive a swag of awards (including three Perrier Award nominations), glowing reviews and a legion of fans around the planet.

A regular to Irish shores, Hills played five nights at the Carlsberg Kilkenny Cats Laughs Festival last weekend and he heads a stellar bill tonight at the Laughter Lounge at Roisin Dubh.

Yeah, I left Perth on Monday after the last show of my Australian tour on Sunday and arrived in Dublin Tuesday morning. I did a radio show with Ray D’Arcy on Today FM on Wednesday morning, but I was so jetlagged, I'm really not sure if any of my sentences contained everything that should be in a sentence.

I have a little flat in north London where I spend half the year and the rest of time I spend back in Australia. I do a six-month on, six month off thing, so it's not too bad.

Oh absolutely! It's my favourite festival to do; it's so laid back! I've just been sitting out on a hotel balcony in the sunshine with Brendan Dempsey and my best mate Ross Noble, talking about what we're going to do for the weekend between shows. I love doing stand up and being surrounded by great friends and great comedians. It's my favourite weekend of the year!

Bit of both really. There are good mates who I'm dying to catch up with and there are acts people I've never heard that I try to catch too… but we all end up in the same festival bar afterwards. It's very rare for this many headline acts to be in the same bar at the end of the night, so it's a good chance to catch up.

Very much so. Edinburgh is so stressful and competitive. Everyone has to fund their own show and everyone worries about how many will turn up every night. But here in Kilkenny you're paid to be here, you only have to play 20-minute slots and all the shows are sold out!

Yeah I know, but the rest of the year makes up for it. When you're playing a 500-seat venue in Basingstoke and only 50 people turn up, it's payback time!

I was polite kid in school, but, when it was my turn to do something, I'd always be funny. I got into debating and public speaking later and just turned on to performing. That's what I'm like now, when I get on stage, I flick a switch and I'm on, cheeky… the rest of the time I'm really polite.

It's going ridiculously well. In fact, I just got a text earlier today from the show's producers congratulating me because last night's episode got the show's second highest ratings ever, 1.6 million people watched it.

Live stand-up is more immediate; it's personal and it's all about me! I'm selfish that way. You don't get the joy of making a good TV show until it shows on air months later. But they compliment each other quite well.

Completely! I'm blown away on a daily basis. Like, right now I'm at Kilkenny festival with my best mates. I get to go to Edinburgh later in the summer and I’m hosting shows at Montreal this year. I never cease to be a giggling child about it all; I get a little bit drunk on laughter.

I can't wait; I always like playing in Galway. People should definitely come and check it out because there's an amazing comedian, Hannah Gadsby playing with me. I produced her show in Melbourne 'cos I love her so much and it got nominated for best newcomer. It's going to be a great night of comedy!

Adam Hills plays the Laughter Lounge at the Roisin Dubh tonight Wednesday 3 June with support from Hannah Gadsby and MC Keith Farnan. Open mic slot is from Bernard Higgins. Tickets €12.50/€7.50 members. Doors 9pm.

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