Ed Byrne did not so much walk on stage as bound on in a burst of frenetic energy.

It set the tone for the whole hilarious show in which the affable Irish comic alternated between bursts of machinegun-fire repertoire and more sedate pondering.

Of course, Byrne could not fail to mention the mobile phone ads he does for the Carphone Warehouse to "get it out the way" but warmed to the theme and spent a good five minutes on the topic.

He had the audience rolling in the aisles as he described how hands-free phones are not hands-free with people holding the phone in one hand and the earpiece in the other.

And the fact he would like to punch those people in the face - not to hurt them but prove they are not on hands-free of course.

Side-splitting jokes about snooze buttons, Riverdance, Australians and taking a poo outdoors in the Grand Canyon came thick and fast.

Byrne is heart-warmingly funny with perfect comic timing and an ability to engage with his audience.

And he retains just enough of a mischievous Irish glint in his eye to deliver toilet humour and sex jokes with witty aplomb.

He is definitely a star still in the ascension.