By Michelle Crean

The pandemic, reaching her 50s and having teenage children almost drove her demented over the last few years - which led to one of Ireland's top comedians writing a brand new show.

'Demented' is Deirdre O'Kane's new stand-up comedy tour and it's coming to the INEC next Friday night at 8pm.

And after a tough two years off the stage, Deirdre, known as the voice of Gogglebox Ireland and The Deirdre O'Kane Show on SkyMax, told the Killarney Advertiser that she's delighted to be doing what she does best - making people laugh.

However, she said that since the pandemic people are slower to get back out to live shows.

"My God we have nothing if we're not having a laugh," Deirdre said.

"I started at the end of April and I'm so happy to be back on the road. I was a lot more nervous and tickets sales were down by 20 percent. I definitely felt that at the start of the tour."

The show is basically a reflection of the last couple of years, she added.

"It's not about the pandemic, it's about me becoming a woman of a certain age and hormones, having teenagers and older parents. I talk about my dad who I lost about four years ago. We were close enough but of a different generation."

Live comedy was off the agenda during the pandemic which she says she missed "a lot".

"Telly got me through the pandemic," she said, adding it also gave her time out to write 'Demented'.

"The show I have now is the best I have ever done. The best thing is you're guaranteed a good laugh."