Construction worker who pivoted to comedy after 20 years: ‘I said to myself, I'm not waiting around any longer. I can definitely do this myself'
Deverey (40) from Ferbane, Co. Offaly, pivoted from over 20 years in construction to play a ten-venue comedy tour across Ireland.
'A Day in the Country' comedy tour features the comic playing a host of different characters inspired by rural Ireland. From a 'dodgy' construction worker to the farmer based on Deverey's own background in farming, he hopes for his comedy to strike at the heart of the Irish countryside.
While working in Australia he attended the Sydney Drama School. When the Offaly man returned to Ireland in 2015 he took on comedy roles in short films, music videos and radio plays.
He said: 'I always had an interest in acting, I was a big fan of Liam Neeson and wanted to get into those types of performances. Then I did a few auditions when I returned to Ireland and ended up being offered all of these comedy roles.'
Then Covid hit and film projects he was set to be a part of were cancelled.
'I said to myself, I'm not waiting around any longer. I can definitely do this myself. So I ordered wigs from a party shop in Dublin and used my phone to edit videos for social media. The more I stayed at it the better I got.'
Then a father and son sketch that he later posted online went viral. Soon thereafter Tadhg posted a similar sketch that also went viral. Things were beginning to take off.
'I was getting emails from people telling me how much my content was helping their mental health. There were so many different kinds of stories. I had one lady who was a carer for her mother with dementia email me. She told me how she would look forward to a new video of mine each week and that it got her through her day-to-day.'
After requests for live performances from fans, Tadhg organised three performances for himself. His first performance was in Portlaoise, his first live show ever, to a sold-out audience of 280 people.
'I thought that's as much as I'll ever do. I never imagined that I would go on to tour the country. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have been given and the unbelievable audiences that have come to see me.'
The comic is now halfway through his tour with dates coming up in Cork, Westmeath, Kilkenny, Galway and Tipperary.
'Every venue has been so different, the crowds have been great. Tullamore is probably one of my favourite performances so far. The TF Royal Theatre in Mayo was another good one. There was an energy in the room that was just insane. The audience had no problem getting up on stage for crowd work, they were up for the craic.'
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