Lewis Black, Paul Merton, Mike McShane, Lee Mack, Dara O'Briain and Ardal O’Hanlon are among the headliners heading to Kilkenny’s Cat Laughs festival at the end of this month.

The international event, now in its 13th year, attracts always some of the best names in comedy, drawn to its party atmosphere and sold-out audiences

Other overseas guests at this year’s event – which runs from May 31 to June 4 - include Carl Barron, Australia’s biggest-selling comic on DVD; Americans Mike Birbiglia, Nick Griffin and Jeff Cauldwell and Canadian Stewart Francis

The festival mainly comprises stand-up in a club atmosphere – but Phil Kay, David O’Doherty, Adam Hill, Andrew Maxwell, Tomy Tiernan, Reuben and Colin Murphy will be performing one-man shows.

Merton will be spreading the word about silent film comedy with his Silent Clowns show; while McShane is part of an international improv line-up.

Other regulars making return appearances include Owen O'Neill, Jason Byrne, Ed Byrne, Fred MacAulay, Andrew Maxwell and Dom Irrera.

The festival artistic director, Eddie Bannon , said: ‘Smithwick's Cat Laughs is consolidating its position as one of the top five comedy festivals in the world. The 2007 festival is truly a snapshot of all that is great in International Stand-Up comedy today.’

For more information, visit the official website.

• Paul Merton is to perform his only stand-up show this year at the Frome Festival, on July 13. Festival director Martin Bax called it ‘a phenomenal coup’ to sign him.