This year's festival will take place in various venues across Dublin for three weeks from Monday 1 September.

The Bulmers International Comedy Festival is especially proud to announce that the world's most popular stand-up, Chris Rock, will be making his debut Irish performance as part of the event.

Also confirmed are Rich Hall as Otis Lee Crenshaw; BBC TV's The Mighty Boosh; the hugely popular Jimmy Carr; rising comedy star Stephen Lynch; from TV's Phoenix Nights Paddy Mc Guinness; Ricky Tomlinson from TV's The Royle Family, and Irish hypnomagician Keith Barry.

Due to demand extra dates have been added at The Bulmers Fringe, which will feature the talents of Brendon Burns, Dead Cat Bounce and Jimeoin On Ice in The Sugar Club.

The festival will see the return of The Orchard Path Comedy Trail taking place in various pubs around town and also a search for new talent competition Nothing Butt Funny.

RTE 2FM Gerry Ryan's Nob Nation have just announced their debut Irish live show as part of the Bulmers International Comedy Festival 2008. The act made famous on RTE 2FM will take to the stage as a one man show in the Olympia for a rip roaring, belly laughing performance Saturday 6 September.

Also on the bill is Police Academy's Michael Winslow. The man of 1,000 sound effects will take to the stage at the Tivoli this September.

Tickets are on sale now.